Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a consignment of cocaine concealed in food flasks and destined for the United Kingdom at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
According to the agency, 12 parcels of cocaine weighing 2.80 kilograms were discovered hidden in the false bottoms of the flasks at the airport’s export shed. The illicit shipment was scheduled to be transported on a Virgin Atlantic flight to the UK.
In a statement issued by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the interception, which took place on April 9, 2026, led to the arrest of two cargo agents identified as Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39. Further investigation traced the shipment to a 52-year-old freight forwarder, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, who was subsequently apprehended.
In a separate operation at the airport’s import shed on April 8, NDLEA officers uncovered 2.90 kilograms of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in snack packs on a Delta Air Lines flight arriving from the United States. Two clearing agents were initially arrested, while the consignee, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was later tracked and arrested at his residence in Ogba, Lagos.
Beyond Lagos, the agency reported a series of coordinated operations across multiple states. In Kaduna, operatives intercepted a cement-laden truck along the Kaduna–Zaria highway, recovering 847 kilograms of skunk concealed within the cargo. The driver was taken into custody.
In Cross River State, a joint raid involving NDLEA personnel and security forces led to the arrest of a suspect at a forest location in Akamkpa Local Government Area. The operation also resulted in the destruction of approximately 15,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated across six hectares of farmland, with an additional 119 kilograms recovered.
Similarly, in Edo State, authorities dismantled a cannabis farm in Ovia North East Local Government Area, destroying over 2,200 kilograms of the substance and arresting three suspects found in possession of processed cannabis and seeds.
In Delta State, two individuals were apprehended with nearly 88 kilograms of skunk and seeds, while in Lagos, operatives intercepted a cross-border drug movement involving tramadol capsules and phenobarbital injections along the Mile 2–Badagry expressway.
The agency also reported the recovery of 95.8 kilograms of cannabis during a raid on a residential building in Lagos Island.
NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across various commands for their efforts, noting that enforcement actions are being effectively combined with preventive initiatives under the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
He urged personnel nationwide to sustain the momentum in tackling drug trafficking while continuing public sensitisation efforts aimed at reducing substance abuse.
The latest seizures highlight ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to curb illicit drug trafficking through major transit points and across regional corridors.
