NDLEA uncovers drugs concealed in cream containers, carton panels, and winter clothing

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs cleverly hidden in unusual items such as body cream containers, winter jackets, and carton walls at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The agency disclosed that the seizures were part of a broader clampdown on drug trafficking networks attempting to smuggle opioids and methamphetamine to destinations across Europe and beyond.
Two suspects connected to shipments heading to Italy were arrested at the airport. One of them, Friday Ehianuka, was intercepted on March 20 while trying to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome. NDLEA officers found 2,698 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed inside containers of skin-lightening cream in his luggage. The suspect, who lives in Milan, reportedly confessed he was to be paid in euros after successful delivery.
In another operation, Christian Agbonhese, also bound for Italy, was arrested on March 18 while attempting to board a Lufthansa flight. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of 28,470 pills of opioids, including tramadol and tapentadol, hidden inside winter jackets.
At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted parcels containing “Loud,” a strong strain of cannabis shipped from the United States, alongside 158 grams of methamphetamine concealed within carton walls and destined for New Zealand.
The agency’s enforcement actions extended to several states. In Kano State, two suspects were apprehended with a combined 198kg of skunk. In Lagos, more than 21,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a store in the Ijora area. Additional seizures were recorded on the Third Mainland Bridge, where suspects were caught transporting thousands of bottles of the same substance.
In Edo State, nearly 100kg of skunk was recovered from a suspect’s residence. In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Gwagwalada expressway, where 91,840 tramadol pills were found hidden in compartments.
Further operations in Oyo, Kaduna, Taraba, and Adamawa states led to the seizure of hundreds of thousands of additional opioid pills and cannabis, with multiple suspects arrested.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised officers across various commands for their coordinated efforts and urged them to sustain the agency’s dual strategy of enforcement and prevention under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The agency also continued its nationwide sensitisation programmes targeting schools, communities, and workplaces to reduce drug abuse and trafficking.
These latest interceptions highlight the evolving tactics used by drug trafficking networks, as well as the intensified efforts by Nigerian authorities to disrupt their activities both locally and internationally.