Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 48-year-old businessman Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris, France, with 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine concealed in his stomach.
Orizu was apprehended at the boarding gate of the airport on Sunday, December 22, 2024, as he underwent outward clearance for the flight. When asked to undergo a body scan, he refused, citing medical reasons. However, after being taken into custody for observation, he excreted the 74 wraps of Class A drugs over a period of seven days.
In his statement, Orizu revealed that he runs a shop at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, where he sells school and travel bags. He claimed he was promised 3,000 Euros for successfully delivering the drugs in Paris, which motivated him to travel from Lagos to Abuja and board the flight, hoping to evade detection.
In another significant drug seizure, the NDLEA’s Marine Command intercepted two boats on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, at Eleko Beach in the Lekki area of Lagos. The boats were carrying 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis. Six foreign nationals—two Ghanaians and four Beninese—were arrested during the operation. The individuals arrested included Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33) from Ghana, as well as Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21) from Benin.
In Katsina, two more drug-related arrests were made. On Christmas Day, December 25, Ibrahim Shaibu (35) was arrested in possession of 40 parcels of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 35kg at Central Motor Park. On December 28, Umar Ahmed (47) was apprehended along the Zaria-Malumfashi road with 27 parcels of the same drug, weighing 13.5kg.
In Benin City, Edo State, on December 23, 2024, NDLEA operatives raided an area on New Lagos Road and arrested 21-year-old Kosisochukwu Ozigbo, who was found with a substantial haul of illicit drugs. Recovered from the suspect were 32,490 pills of tramadol (225mg, 200mg, and 100mg), 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and various quantities of other opioids.
Across the country, NDLEA commands have also intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaigns, organizing sensitization programs at schools, markets, worship centers, and communities. For instance, the Lagos State Strategic Command, in collaboration with the Menitos Foundation, held a lecture for the residents of Akoka community in Bariga, while the Adamawa State Command conducted a similar lecture for members of Jama’atul Nasril Islam during their annual group and leadership camp.
Commending the efforts of the officers in the past week, NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged all NDLEA personnel nationwide to continue their offensive actions against drug cartels in 2025. He emphasized the need for further progress, alongside the continued sensitization of the public through WADA campaigns.
