The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted a series of major drug trafficking attempts, leading to the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of illicit substances across key locations in Nigeria.
These operations, carried out between December 15 and 18, 2024, have disrupted large-scale drug smuggling efforts at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, and in multiple states across the country.
A significant breakthrough occurred at Kano’s MAKIA on December 15, when NDLEA operatives intercepted 256 wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of 6 kilograms, concealed in the body of an import/export businessman, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus. This seizure is the largest cocaine interception at the airport since the establishment of the NDLEA MAKIA Command in 2006.
The drugs were discovered during a routine body screening of passengers arriving on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941, which had flown from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with a layover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Calistus, who claimed to be in the import-export business, had packed hundreds of cocaine pellets in his body in an attempt to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, another drug smuggling plot was foiled when NDLEA operatives arrested Olanrewaju Bada Akorede, an ex-convict who had been previously sentenced for similar offenses. On December 12, 2023, Akorede had been arrested for attempting to ship 4.90 kg of tramadol and 2.10 kg of rohypnol to South Africa. After paying a fine of N900,000 to avoid jail time, he was released but returned to attempt the same crime. This time, Akorede attempted to export a consignment of rohypnol hidden in a cargo containing everyday items like gari, shoes, and men’s singlets. His arrest highlights the ongoing challenges in tackling repeat offenders in the global drug trade.
In a separate incident on December 18, Cynthia Akaeen, a businesswoman based in Italy, was arrested at the departure point of Lagos’ Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy via Addis Ababa. During a routine check, NDLEA officers discovered 9,190 tablets of various tramadol brands, totaling 6.00 kilograms, concealed in her luggage. Akaeen claimed she had been promised 1,000 Euros upon the successful delivery of the drugs in Italy, underscoring the international nature of drug trafficking operations targeting Nigerian airports.
The NDLEA also made significant seizures across several states in the country. In Anambra, a warehouse at the building material market in Onitsha was raided on December 17, resulting in the recovery of 418,330 pills of tramadol and 8,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup. Similarly, at Maiduguri’s Pompomari Bypass, NDLEA operatives seized large quantities of tramadol and other illicit substances, including the dangerous new psychoactive drug “suck and die.” The operation led to the arrest of three individuals, who were found with over half a million capsules of tramadol, along with firearms and ammunition.
At the Tincan Island port in Lagos, a joint operation on December 18 between NDLEA, Customs, DSS, and other security agencies led to the seizure of 180,000 bottles of codeine syrup in a container originating from Mundra, India. This discovery was part of ongoing efforts to monitor and intercept illicit shipments entering the country via major seaports. Additionally, in Lagos, a consignment containing 32 kilograms of ephedrine, a precursor chemical for the illicit production of drugs, was recovered at the Young Shall Grow Luxurious Vehicles Park.
The NDLEA continues its aggressive campaign to combat drug trafficking and abuse across the country. Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the agency’s officers for their successful operations and urged them to maintain their vigilance in both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
As part of its broader strategy, the NDLEA has also ramped up its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities, visiting schools, communities, and workplaces to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
