NDLEA arrests woman en route India for ‘fibroid surgery’ with 2.2kg cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested Adekoya Mary, a 43-year-old woman, with 2.2kg of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

A statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA director, media and advocacy, said the suspect, who identified as a makeup artist, claimed she was travelling to India for fibroid surgery.

Babafemi said Adekoya was intercepted on June 16 while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.

He noted that the suspect was apprehended after two parcels of cocaine hidden in her bag lining were uncovered by operatives.

Babafemi said Adekoya confessed to being recruited for the trip by a suspected drug baron identified as Akeem Adekanbi, who is currently on the run.

The NDLEA official said operatives also intercepted two international shipments of drugs concealed in everyday items in Lagos.

According to him, the officers found 850 grams of cocaine hidden inside cloth hangers destined for Australia on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the operatives seized 1.3kg of ‘loud’, a potent cannabis strain, from a consignment of female dresses heading to Bahrain.

Babafemi said NDLEA officers arrested two men — Ibrahim Galadima and Ibrahim Muhammed — along the Bauchi-Darazo road with over one million opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.

In Kaduna, Bishir Isyaku was arrested along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on June 17.

Babafemi said the suspect was transporting 14.2kg of skunk hidden in charcoal sacks and 198kg of rubber solution packed in seven cartons.

MULTIPLE ARRESTS, DRUG BUSTS IN FCT, KANO, KWARA

Speaking on other seizures, Babafemi said six suspects, including Murtala Adamu and Ahmed Ismai’l, were arrested in Abuja during raids on Karu abattoir and Torabora communities on June 18.

He said officers recovered 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine.

“In Kano, Umar Hamisu, 19, and Dahiru Abdullahi, 32, were caught on June 19 along the Zaria-Kano road with 56.2kg of skunk,” the statement reads.

“That same day, Obiwuru Henry, 27, was arrested in Fagge LGA with 23,720 tramadol capsules and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine.

“On June 21, Abubakar Modu, 60, and Abdulkadir Muhammed, 28, were found with 36.6kg and 32kg of skunk, respectively, on the same route.”

In Ilorin, 22-year-old Olotin Nifemi, a student of Kwara State Polytechnic, was arrested with 1kg of skunk on June 19.

She is reportedly a known distributor of illicit drugs among students.

In Edo, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,226.11kg of skunk during a raid on a cannabis camp at Ugbada, Uzebba forest, in Owan West LGA on June 20.

Babafemi said one suspect, identified as Albert Shamaki, was arrested.

A day earlier, officers stormed Big Jamaya supermarket in Esan West LGA, arresting Esther Abumere, and recovering assorted drugs, including colorado, loud, molly, tramadol, and other opioids.

Another raid on a provision shop at Idumeka, Igueben, led to the arrest of Eko Gift and the seizure of 1.143kg of skunk.

Babafemi noted that the agency continued its war against drug abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across Nigeria.

He said activities included lectures at secondary schools in Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kano, and Enugu.

In Osun, officials visited Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, at his palace in Ile Ife, to advocate for community support in the fight against drug abuse.

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended officers for their efforts in curbing drug trafficking and abuse in the country.