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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple drug consignments across Nigeria, including 5.4kg of cocaine destined for Owerri and the arrest of a Turkey-bound Angolan businessman who excreted 120 wraps of cocaine.
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, NDLEA officers at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) arrested 42-year-old Angolan national Mbala Dajou Abuba after body scans revealed ingested cocaine. During excretion observation, Abuba expelled 120 pellets weighing 1.829kg, admitting to abandoning his delivery business in Angola for drug trafficking. He was attempting to board an Egypt Air flight to Istanbul via Cairo.
In a separate operation, NDLEA’s special unit thwarted an attempt by Ezechi Iyke Cyprian to transport 5.40kg of cocaine to Owerri, Imo State, in a Toyota Sienna bus on February 23. The arrest followed weeks of surveillance.
Meanwhile, at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), auto parts dealer Okeke Ebuka Igwe was nabbed on February 24 for concealing 1.10kg of cocaine in vehicle propellers bound for Angola.
Igwe, who operates in ASPANDA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, claimed he was a legitimate businessman.
At Tincan Seaport, a joint operation on February 28 uncovered 128 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis (63.75kg) hidden in mattresses within a Toyota Venza imported from Canada. The consignee, Bamidele Joseph, 44, was arrested.
In Delta State, NDLEA and military teams destroyed 52,459kg of cannabis on February 27–28, raiding a 20-hectare forest in Ndokwa West and intercepting a truck with 1,111kg of skunk. Five suspects were arrested. Edo State operations on March 1 led to the destruction of 100 jumbo bags of skunk in Okpuje community, with two suspects detained.
Additional arrests included Michael Omoloki (58.5kg skunk) in Oyo, Lawali Mohammed (2,980 tramadol pills) in Kwara, and Ayuba Mustapha (24,700 tramadol pills) in Zamfara. In Borno, Mustapha Shettima was caught with 31kg skunk and tramadol, while Adamu Idris was arrested in Kano with 73.5kg of cannabis.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the operatives, emphasizing the agency’s “balanced approach” to drug supply reduction and public sensitization.
The agency also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) with school and community lectures nationwide.
