Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded significant breakthroughs in the ongoing nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
The crackdown led to high-profile arrests, large-scale seizures, and coordinated operations across multiple states between June 28 and July 5, 2025.
According to an official statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA officers attached to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) uncovered two consignments of cocaine at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, July 3.
According to the statement, “the drugs were concealed in creative but deceptive packaging, 420 grams hidden in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the United Kingdom, and 280 grams stuffed inside a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) destined for Saudi Arabia”.
In a separate operation, a notorious drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, also known as “Warri Kinsman,” was arrested in Ikeja, Lagos, on June 28, following a three-day intelligence-led operation that dismantled his drug trafficking network.
The crackdown led to the arrest of three other suspects and the recovery of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud (a potent strain of cannabis), weighing 414.2 kilograms.
Also in Lagos, a family-led drug ring involving businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary, their daughters, and a family friend was exposed.
The couple was first arrested on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and transferred to NDLEA with 277.5kg of skunk. Subsequent investigations led to a raid on July 1, uncovering an additional 231kg of skunk at their residence.
Their daughters, Ngozi and Blessing Uchenna, and family associate Okoro Elijah were arrested for continuing operations in the couple’s absence.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on July 2, NDLEA operatives intercepted a frequent flyer, Aburemi Hysent, who was attempting to smuggle 7,660 pills of tramadol (225mg and 200mg) concealed in food items bound for Italy.
In another operation at the airport on July 4, operatives intercepted 52 pieces of travellers’ cheques worth 17.7 million Australian dollars hidden inside children’s books and intended for Malaysia via Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Seme border recovered 718 large wraps of skunk weighing 359kg from a store in the Baba-Pupa area of Badagry on July 5.
On the same day, patrol officers along the Okene-Lokoja highway intercepted 10,000 pills of tramadol and co-codamol, along with 1.050kg of Colorado (synthetic cannabis). Follow-up operations led to the arrest of Chinedu Odo, Samuel Ogbonna, and Kingsley Ugaji at Jabi Park, Abuja.
