NDLEA intercepts illicit drugs concealed in prayer beads, clothing, shipments

DESPERATE attempts by some drug trafficking organisations (DTOs) to move illicit consignments—such as cocaine, tramadol, Loud, Molly, and other substances—concealed in prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and Lagos airport have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

At least two suspects behind some of these failed smuggling attempts at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, have already been arrested.

One of them, a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, was apprehended at Gate ‘C’ of the airport’s departure hall while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, 8th March 2025.

Upon searching her luggage, officials recovered 190 parcels of tramadol (225mg) and another parcel of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. In her statement, she admitted purchasing the drugs herself with the intent to resell them in Italy.

At the Lagos airport’s export shed on Tuesday, 11th March, NDLEA officers arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a package containing clothing used to conceal 400 grams of skunk to New York, United States.

At logistics companies in Lagos, drug traffickers’ efforts to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, and tramadol (365mg and 225mg) hidden in vitamin C bottles and female clothing to the US were foiled by NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI).

Between Monday, 10th March, and Wednesday, 12th March, other shipments—containing 230 grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, the soles of locally made shoes, and board game packs—were intercepted en route to Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE.

In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested a 40-year-old suspect, Hassan Haruna, at Chalawa on Wednesday, 12th March, recovering 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg. Additionally, on Tuesday, 11th March, officers intercepted a commercial bus transporting 58,300 tramadol pills along the Kabba-Obajana highway in Kogi State.

Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna State, on Thursday, 13th March, led to the arrest of 21-year-old Idris Hamza with 4,900 tramadol (225mg) pills.

A similar operation in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA on Friday, 14th March, resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji, from whom 2,900 tramadol (225mg) tablets were recovered.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives seized 40,200 tramadol (225mg) tablets from Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway in Bode Saadu on Friday, 14th March.

Similarly, on Thursday, 13th March, officers confiscated 21,700 capsules of the same opioid from suspect Salisu Usman along the Eiyenkorin Expressway, Ilorin.

In Taraba State, NDLEA officers arrested 35-year-old Polycarp Adeku at Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, on Friday, 14th March, recovering 15.77kg of skunk.

In Osun State, on Thursday, 13th March, operatives intercepted a commercial bus (marked SGB 564 YS) coming from Idumota, Lagos Island, in front of King University, Ode-Omu, with a total of 48.7kg of Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud—various cannabis strains. Follow-up operations in Osogbo and Ile-Ife led to the arrest of at least nine suspects connected to the seizure.

On Tuesday, 11th March, a 58-year-old suspect, Ade Esan (aka Pastor), was arrested along the Gwagwalada Expressway, Abuja, with 27,800 tramadol (225mg) pills. That same day, another suspect, Usman Mohammed, 26, was apprehended with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.

In Abia State, NDLEA operatives raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, on Saturday, 15th March, arresting 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money). The officers recovered 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4 grams of cocaine, and ₦753,015 in cash.

Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, places of worship, workplaces, and communities over the past week.

These included awareness lectures at U.P.E. School, Ilara Epe, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Jigalambu, Michika, Adamawa State; Agbegi High Grammar School, Dekina, Kogi State; Capital City Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti, Ekiti State, among others.

Commending the efforts of NDLEA operatives in MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and the FCT, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their success in drug enforcement. He also acknowledged their balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies.