The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, arresting multiple suspects in operations across Nigeria, including a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Abuba.
Abuba was apprehended on February 25, 2025, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while attempting to smuggle cocaine to Istanbul, Turkey, via an Egypt Air flight. A body scan confirmed that he had ingested illicit drugs, leading to his detention. He later excreted 120 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.829 kg, in seven rounds.
In a related bust, NDLEA operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, foiled an attempt by auto spare parts dealer Okeke Igwe to traffic 1.10 kg of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola. Similarly, Ezechi Cyprian was arrested while transporting 5.40 kg of cocaine to Owerri, Imo State, after weeks of surveillance.
At Tincan Seaport, Lagos, a joint operation involving NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies uncovered 128 parcels of Canadian Loud (a potent cannabis strain) hidden in two mattresses inside a Toyota Venza imported from Canada. The 63.75 kg shipment led to the arrest of its consignee, 44-year-old Bamidele Joseph.
Further raids in Delta and Edo states resulted in the destruction of massive cannabis farms and the seizure of large quantities of illicit substances. In Delta, NDLEA operatives, backed by the military, dismantled a 20-hectare cannabis farm in Ndokwa West LGA, destroying over 50,000 kg of illicit crops and arresting five suspects. Meanwhile, in Edo, operatives seized 1,409.5 kg of skunk in Okpuje community and destroyed large storage facilities.
Other notable arrests included:
- Lawali Mohammed in Kwara with 2,980 tramadol tablets.
- Sunday Ogbu in Osun with 1.05 kg of skunk hidden in a detergent and biscuit carton.
- Mustapha Shettima in Borno with 31 kg of skunk, tramadol, and N720,000 in cash.
- Adamu Idris in Kano with 140 blocks of cannabis weighing 73.5 kg.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has reiterated the agency’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking and ensuring Nigeria is not a haven for illicit drug activities.