NDLEA Seizes Drugs Hidden in Sanitary Pads and Creams

In a series of coordinated operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted substantial consignments of cocaine and pharmaceutical opioids concealed in everyday items such as ladies’ sanitary pads and hair treatment cream containers.

These consignments, which were destined for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Cyprus, were seized at three courier firms in Lagos, marking a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed in a statement on Sunday that these seizures were part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on drug smuggling.

According to Babafemi, operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) discovered the drugs during routine examinations of cargoes scheduled for international shipment.

In one case, officers recovered 30 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.1 kilograms, cleverly hidden inside hair cream containers bound for Ireland.

Just days later, at the same logistics company, another consignment of 24 parcels of cocaine, weighing 862 grams and also concealed in hair cream containers, was intercepted en route to the UK.

This operation highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods used by traffickers to evade detection.

Further investigations led to the seizure of 525 pills of tramadol 225mg and ecstasy (MDMA), which were found concealed in sanitary pads destined for Cyprus.

The following day, a separate shipment of 200 ampoules of promethazine and pentazocine injections, hidden among food items and herbs, was intercepted on its way to London.

These pharmaceutical opioids are highly regulated due to their potential for abuse, making their illegal distribution a critical public health concern.

The NDLEA’s vigilance extended beyond Lagos. Babafemi reported that another consignment of tramadol 225mg, hidden in granulated melon seeds from Cameroon and intended for South Africa, was intercepted on September 6th.

This haul illustrates the transnational nature of drug trafficking networks, which often involve multiple countries and creative concealment methods to transport illegal substances.

The NDLEA also conducted significant operations outside of Lagos.

At Port Harcourt International Airport, a joint operation with the Nigerian Customs Service led to the interception of 550,000 tramadol pills in a shipment originating from Delhi, India.

A suspect connected to this shipment has been arrested, highlighting the NDLEA’s commitment to holding traffickers accountable.

In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives, supported by the Nigerian Army, dismantled three large cannabis farms covering over 51 hectares within the Ise-Ekiti forest reserve.

The destruction of these farms, located in Aba Saalaja, Aba Paanu, and Aba Arogunmatidi, resulted in the seizure of over 100,000 kilograms of cannabis.

Two suspects were arrested in connection with these operations, emphasising the NDLEA’s comprehensive approach to drug supply reduction, targeting both the production and distribution chains.

Additional arrests were made across Nigeria. In Kaduna, two suspects, Bala Musa and Danladi Muhammad, were apprehended with 305 kilograms of cannabis concealed in a false compartment of a bus.

Other arrests in the region included a 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Ayuba, found with 18 kilograms of cannabis, and two men, Umar Usman and Zubairu Kabiru, caught with 1,300 tramadol tablets along the Zaria-Kaduna highway.

In Jigawa State, a 30-year-old man named Uzairu Ya’u was nabbed with 32.6 kilograms of cannabis, while operatives in Kogi State intercepted a commercial bus carrying 77,300 pills of tramadol, diazepam, and Exol-5, along with 1,230 bottles of codeine.

These seizures were part of a broader operation targeting drug distribution networks across Nigeria’s highways.

Further arrests were made in Borno State, where Idris Muhammad was found with 13,100 tramadol pills, and in Kano, where Hakilu Usman was caught with 25.8 kilograms of cannabis and 3,000 diazepam tablets.

In Taraba State, Musa Adamu was arrested with 87,790 tramadol pills, while a raid in Osun State led to the seizure of crack cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis, and a locally made pistol from a drug kingpin known as Mayowa Abayomi Awe, alias “Bishop.”

Reacting to these developments, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency’s officers across various commands, including DOGI, PHIA, Ekiti, Kano, Osun, Taraba, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kogi, Bauchi, and Borno.

Marwa lauded their efforts and urged them to continue their relentless pursuit of drug traffickers, emphasising the importance of ongoing drug supply and demand reduction initiatives.

These seizures and arrests represent a significant step in the NDLEA’s battle against the illicit drug trade in Nigeria.

The agency’s proactive stance and collaboration with other law enforcement bodies underscore its commitment to safeguarding public health and security from the dangers posed by drug trafficking and abuse.