Abuja, Nigeria — A Nigerian businessman has been arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) after excreting a total of 127 wraps of cocaine concealed internally. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) detained Ejiofor Godwin Emeka, 52, who runs boutiques in Lagos and Onitsha, upon his arrival from Bangkok, Thailand. The wraps, which weighed 1.388 kilograms, were recovered from his body over several days of observation following his initial arrest based on intelligence reports.
The operation was part of a major nationwide crackdown by the NDLEA, which has intercepted a wide variety of illicit substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, skunk, and powerful opioids, destined for international markets. The Agency reported thwarting smuggling attempts to global destinations including the United Kingdom, Australia, the UAE, Turkey, and South Africa. The details of the extensive seizures and numerous arrests were confirmed in a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.
Sophisticated Concealment Methods Exposed
NDLEA operatives exposed several sophisticated methods of concealment being used by trafficking syndicates. At a courier company in Lagos, three consignments bound for the United Kingdom were intercepted, including 1.74kg of methamphetamine found hidden inside blocks of glass ceramics. Other seizures included opioids like pentazocine and tramadol injections concealed in separate shipments also heading to the UK.
Further international smuggling attempts were thwarted, including 2.6kg of skunk and tapentadol concealed in tablets of black soap heading to Turkey. Cocaine, disguised within lady’s handbags, was seized en route to Australia, while a strong strain of cannabis known as ‘Loud’ was found hidden in containers of herbs destined for the United Arab Emirates. In one instance at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), 27,510 pills of the sedative Rohypnol were seized after being concealed in sachets of alcoholic drinks bound for South Africa.
Nationwide Arrests and Seizures
The operations extended beyond the airports, leading to arrests and significant seizures across several Nigerian states. Follow-up action linked to the Rohypnol seizure led to the arrest of the alleged mastermind, Samuel Omoruyi (alias Yellow), in Lagos. Separately, an Italy-based businessman, Enehizena Augustine Uyimwen, was detained while attempting to export 3,700 pills of tramadol and 2,600 tabs of tapentadol to the European country.
Major seizures of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recorded in Edo, Rivers, and Katsina states. In Osun state, two suspects were arrested following the seizure of 635 kilograms of skunk from their vehicle. The agency also seized vast quantities of pharmaceuticals, including 22,000 capsules of tramadol and 150,000 pills of Exol-5, in Niger and Kaduna states.
In a concluding statement, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended his officers and urged them to maintain their “tenacity, professionalism and balanced approach” to drug control. The agency also highlighted its continued efforts in public awareness, conducting its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools and communities across the country.
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