NDLEA Seizes Cocaine Shipments Bound for UK and Australia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted shipments of cocaine and opioids hidden in cartons destined for the United Kingdom and Australia, and destroyed a total of 65,000 kilograms of skunk in nationwide anti-narcotics operations.

According to a statement released on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the agency’s operatives uncovered the illicit consignments at a courier company in Lagos during routine checks on shipments bound for the UK and Australia. The search led to the discovery of 170 grams of cocaine, sealed in cellophane and hidden within a carton of clothes heading to Australia. Another shipment destined for the UK was found to contain 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol, and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection, all concealed within a carton.

In Delta State, NDLEA officers raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area, destroying 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 11 hectares of farmland and seizing an additional 22.9 kilograms of the drug. A 52-year-old suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Peter, was arrested during a follow-up operation in Obiaruku. Meanwhile, a separate raid at Orogun village in Ughelli North LGA resulted in the destruction of another 37,500 kilograms of skunk across 15 hectares, with officers recovering 55.4 kilograms and arresting a 30-year-old suspect, Godwin Vincent Osadera.

Together, these operations resulted in the destruction of 65,000 kilograms of skunk, carried out by NDLEA operatives with support from soldiers.

In Kaduna State, a raid in the Dan Magaji area of Zaria led to the recovery of 361 kilograms of skunk and the arrest of 42-year-old Husaini Suleiman. The agency also intercepted a large cache of military-grade ammunition—1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm—concealed in cassava flour (garri) along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The suspect, 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan, and the seized ammunition were handed over to another security agency for further investigation.

In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested 29-year-old businessman Ogadi Peter, who is accused of producing drug-infused cakes and cookies for social events. The arrest took place at his Life Camp residence in Abuja, where officers recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.7 kilograms of drug-laced cookies.

Elsewhere, officers in Ogun State recovered 181 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Aliyu Sani, during a raid in Ogere. In Taraba State, 27-year-old Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa was apprehended along the Zaki-Biam road in Wukari LGA with 105,850 opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.

In Oyo State, two suspects—20-year-old Adeleke Olamide Aliyah and 25-year-old Aloba Abdulazeez—were arrested in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies in Saki town. In Edo State, the agency destroyed 1,388 kilograms of skunk during raids on farms in Ago forest, Orhionmwon LGA. Kano State operatives intercepted a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil used to conceal 1.2 kilograms of tramaking pills and arrested Aminu Isa, 35, in Sabuwar Sharada with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.

The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign also continued in schools across Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti, and Kano states.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers from various commands for their recent arrests and seizures, highlighting their commitment to balancing enforcement with preventive advocacy.