Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant strides in its fight against drug trafficking, with a series of high-profile arrests and seizures across the country, underscoring the agency’s relentless efforts to curb the illicit drug trade.
On Saturday, 7 June, NDLEA operatives at Port Harcourt International Airport apprehended Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian, a 44-year-old businessman, as he attempted to board Qatar Airways flight QR1434 to Tehran, Iran, via Doha. A body scan revealed he had ingested illicit drugs, and during excretion observation, he expelled 53 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.172kg over six excretions. Ezemokwe admitted to engaging in the drug trade for two years, operating between West Africa and Iran. This arrest comes just weeks after a similar incident at Kano’s Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, where another businessman was caught with 65 pellets of cocaine en route to Iran.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport intercepted Edobor Ambrose Ali, an Italy-bound passenger, on 14 June. Working with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s Aviation Security, officers discovered 14,410 tramadol pills (225mg and 200mg) concealed in winter jackets during a baggage scan. Edobor, who resides in Italy, confessed he was hired to courier the drugs to Milan for €2,000, with all expenses covered.
At Port Harcourt Ports in Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA operatives, alongside Customs Service and other security agencies, seized 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at over N1.1 billion on 13 June. The opioids were hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares in a watch-listed container, highlighting the sophisticated methods used by traffickers.
In Cross River State, NDLEA raided a warehouse in Obereakai, Odukpani LGA, on 12 June, recovering 2,687kg of skunk, a potent cannabis strain. Three suspects—Friday Achibong Joseph, 47; Abraham Anthony Willy, 21; and Utibe David Okon, 24—were arrested. On the same day, 287kg of skunk was seized from a Toyota Camry in Bauchi, leading to the arrest of Iriemi Imonikhe, 49, and Sa’idu Ladan, 30.
NDLEA’s Marine Command recovered 560kg of skunk from a wooden boat at Oniru Beach, Lagos, on 12 June. Meanwhile, at Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri, two businessmen, Ishaku Abdullahi, 30, and Buba Usman, 32, were arrested with ecstasy pills and skunk packaged as “Lychee” and “Porro Legal.”
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continued with sensitisation lectures delivered to schools, including Command Secondary School in Enugu, Divine Gift International School in Ebonyi, Baptist Primary School in Oyo, and St. Vincent Secondary School in Akwa Ibom.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, praised the operatives for their professionalism and balanced approach to reducing both drug supply and demand. “The arrests and seizures reflect the commitment of our officers across MMIA, PHIA, MBIAM, PHPC, Marine, Cross River, and Bauchi Commands,” Marwa said.
As Nigeria battles the scourge of drug trafficking, the NDLEA’s recent operations signal a robust response to the global challenge, with a focus on dismantling smuggling networks and protecting communities.
