NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Tramadol In 71 Vehicle Side Mirrors
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors.
According to the anti-narcotics agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this on Sunday, the vehicles were being sent to Libreville, Gabon, through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, with not less than three suspects linked to the cargo already arrested in follow-up operations.
Babafemi revealed that the first batch of the consignment consisting 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of Cocaine weighing 1.60kg were intercepted in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday 19th July 2025.
Following the interception, a popular cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, who was handling the shipment was immediately arrested, after which further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah on Sunday 20th July.
A search of Uzochukwu’s home on 21 July led to the discovery of 11 parcels of cocaine weighing 1 kilogramme in four additional side mirrors being prepared for export, bringing the total number of parcels of cocaine to 68 weighing 2.60 kilograms.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives on Friday 1st August arrested a businesswoman Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos following the interception of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine, a cutting agent, concealed in ladies’ lipsticks going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the export shed of the Lagos airport on 10th July 2025.
Two cargo agents linked to the shipment were earlier arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka who runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run. In her statement, Mrs. Nwafor admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband handled the actual concealment.
In Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, intelligence-led stop and search operations conducted in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas on Wednesday 30th July led to the arrest of three dispatch riders for distributing illicit substances around the city. A total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis were recovered from them.
