NDLEA arrests Ugandan woman with cocaine concealed in private parts, uncovers multi-billion naira drug cartels
A Ugandan woman who travelled to Nigeria with members of her church for a religious programme has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.15 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed around her pelvic region, in a sweeping crackdown by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that also exposed international drug trafficking networks and massive illicit drug consignments across several states.
The 34-year-old suspect, identified as Farida Nansubuga, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, last Tuesday while preparing to board a flight to Uganda with 87 wraps of cocaine strapped around her body beneath two layers of underwear
Her arrest formed part of a series of operations in which the agency intercepted a shipment of 750,000 tablets of the highly potent opioid, Tapentadol, valued at about N900 million, dismantled a network importing chemicals for the production of synthetic cannabis and recovered hundreds of kilogrammes of illicit drugs destined for local and international markets
According to a statement on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Nansubuga arrived in Nigeria on October 29 with members of her church for a prayer programme at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos.
While the other members of her delegation reportedly returned to Uganda after the religious engagement, she remained behind to collect a drug consignment allegedly arranged by an associate identified as Joy, who resides in Uganda.
The agency said preliminary investigations revealed that Joy had connected her to a Nigerian contact who arranged transportation to a hotel on the morning of her scheduled departure.
It was allegedly at the hotel that a man handed her the cocaine and instructed her to conceal it beneath her clothing to evade airport security.
She reportedly expected to receive at least $1,000 upon successfully delivering the drugs in Uganda, although no definite payment had been agreed.
Babafemi said her arrest followed a joint passenger-screening operation involving NDLEA operatives and aviation security personnel at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport. A preliminary body search raised suspicion, prompting her transfer to a designated private search room, where the 87 wraps weighing 1.150 kilogrammes were recovered.
In another major interception at the airport, NDLEA operatives uncovered 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at N900 million, in a consignment imported from India.
The shipment, which arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Ahmedabad last Tuesday was declared as Paracetamol 500mg and packed in 11 cartons concealed within two wooden structures.
However, suspicious of the declaration, the agency placed the consignment under surveillance until November 6, when a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies exposed the deception.
Babafemi noted that the opioid tablets were discovered in 10 of the 11 cartons, while only the last carton contained paracetamol tablets allegedly used as cover for the illicit shipment.
The airport operations also exposed attempts to move cannabis and synthetic drug-manufacturing materials through international cargo channels.
The spokesman said last Wednesday, operatives intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, a potent cannabis strain weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, concealed inside two wooden sofas in a consolidated cargo from Houston, Texas, United States.
A freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, who presented himself to clear the consignment, was arrested. A follow-up operation on November 6 led to the arrest of a 34-year-old Ibadan-based caterer, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, who allegedly came to collect the package.
Ojo reportedly told investigators that he was acting on the instructions of a friend, Taiwo Anuoluwapo Olusegun.
Similarly, the agency uncovered an alleged international syndicate importing chemicals used in the production of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, from the United Kingdom.
The investigation followed the interception, on October 23, of nine parcels of illicit substances concealed in two cartons of snacks bearing the label “Michael Tea Guy” in a consolidated cargo arriving aboard an Air Peace flight from the UK.
Two of the parcels contained 1.2 kilogrammes of cannabis, while forensic analysis established that the remaining seven contained chemicals used in manufacturing synthetic cannabis.
A 51-year-old freight agent, Afolabi Wale, was arrested while attempting to clear the consignment.
Further investigations led operatives to two additional cartons shipped to the same recipient aboard an Allied Air flight. A sting operation conducted between October 26 and 28 resulted in the arrest of another 51-year-old suspect, Okwuite Benjamin Ojone, when he arrived to take delivery.
A search of the additional cartons uncovered three parcels weighing 3.30 kilogrammes concealed in detergent packs and 11 plastic bottles containing mainly liquid substances weighing 16.25 kilogrammes.
The seizures brought the total recovery from the operation to 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis and 28.65 kilogrammes of chemicals suspected to be intended for synthetic cannabis production.
Beyond the airport interceptions, the NDLEA also uncovered several attempts to export illicit drugs through courier companies.
In Lagos, operatives last Tuesday intercepted 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes packed in two cartons and destined for the United Kingdom.
Earlier, on October 30, the agency intercepted 296 tablets of Swinol destined for Australia, alongside three separate shipments of tramadol intended for the UK.
The tramadol consignments included 20 capsules from Benin City and 96 capsules from Sapele, Delta State, concealed in vitamin C containers, as well as 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba hidden inside female headwear.
The latest discoveries underscored the increasingly elaborate concealment methods employed by trafficking networks, which exploit ordinary household items, clothing, food containers and international cargo channels to move illicit substances across borders.
The agency also recorded significant recoveries from domestic distribution networks.
In Lagos, a 32-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ali, was arrested on November 6 at Marine Beach, Apapa, after operatives discovered a drug storage facility built inside the sitting room of his apartment.
Items recovered included 1.06 kilogrammes of Tramadol 250mg, 1.27 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg, 400 grammes of pregabalin capsules, 355 grammes of diazepam, 200 millilitres of codeine and 6.07 kilogrammes of cannabis.
In Ondo State, operatives raided Odofin Road, Uso, last Friday recovering 148 bags of cannabis weighing 1,818 kilogrammes.
On the same day, officers raided a cannabis plantation in Board Forest, where they destroyed one hectare of the farm, recovered 242 kilogrammes of the substance and arrested a 36-year-old suspect, Itoro Linus Akpan.
In neighbouring Ekiti State, a 53-year-old man, Agbo Paul Peter, was arrested at Osin Forest, Osin-Ekiti, on November 5 with 216 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds.
Edo State also recorded major interceptions, with operatives stopping a Golf saloon car carrying 19 bags of cannabis weighing 201 kilogrammes along the Auchi-Ibillo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
The driver, Abdulmumid Isah, 39, and a passenger, Danako Godwin, 25, were arrested.
Three other suspects were apprehended during a raid on a notorious drug joint along Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, where quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis were recovered.
In Taraba State, three suspects were arrested within two days at the agency’s checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area, with 283 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 226.255 kilogrammes.
The arrests involved Ibrahim Abdullahi, 45, who was found with 156 blocks weighing 149.275 kilogrammes; Kabiru Usman, 25, with 80 blocks weighing 40.07 kilogrammes; and Babangida Babayo, 32, with 47 blocks weighing 36.91 kilogrammes.
In Enugu State, officers arrested a 57-year-old man, Celestine Ejiakor, at Eke Obinagu checkpoint last Tuesday with 44 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.5 kilogrammes.
Another operation at Ugwuoba checkpoint led to the arrest of Godwin Shaapera, 40, with 24,000 capsules of tramadol weighing 13.4 kilogrammes and 697 grammes of ketamine.
Delta State was not left out of the nationwide operations, as operatives arrested Edugua Othuke, 30, at Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, on October 31, recovering 10.54 kilogrammes of skunk, 9.4 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and 4.3 grammes of methamphetamine.
Another suspect, Akpofure Tobore, 34, was arrested last Wednesday at Upper Agbarho, Ughelli, with quantities of skunk, tramadol, Rohypnol and laughing gas.
Beyond enforcement, the agency said its commands continued public enlightenment campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, targeting schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities.
Reacting to the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel of the agency’s commands in Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Taraba and Enugu for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa described the Ugandan woman’s arrest as a disturbing illustration of how drug cartels exploit religious gatherings and international travel to recruit unsuspecting or financially vulnerable individuals as couriers.
He urged officers across the country to sustain the pressure on trafficking networks through intensified supply reduction operations and public awareness campaigns.
