Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a major cocaine consignment concealed in the heads of imported dry stock fish, popularly known as “okporoko,” in Lagos, as part of a series of nationwide anti-drug operations.
The breakthrough followed intelligence-led efforts by the Agency’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command, culminating in a targeted operation in Ojo, Lagos.
During the raid, a 36-year-old suspect, Akputa Dickson Ejike, believed to be a key member of an international drug syndicate, was arrested with three large bags containing 237 wraps of cocaine weighing 5.8kg. The illicit shipment was reportedly destined for Delhi, India.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted two consignments bound for the United Kingdom at a courier facility in Lagos. The seizures included 1.9kg of methamphetamine hidden in automobile filters, as well as 40 ampoules of morphine sulphate and nine ampoules of fentanyl.
Further crackdowns led to the arrest of a suspected drug kingpin, Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, also known as “Iya Ghana,” at her residence in Yaba, Lagos. She was apprehended alongside an accomplice, with 135 blocks of “Ghana Loud,” a potent cannabis strain weighing 76.3kg. Another suspect, Anayo Lucky Ohabiro, was arrested in Surulere with 78 blocks of the same substance.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA officers arrested 80-year-old Oke Samuel during a raid in Efon-Alaaye, recovering 2.2kg of skunk and a small quantity of methamphetamine. In Ondo State, operatives seized a massive 894.72kg of the same substance from a suspect in an uncompleted building in Akure North.
Additional operations across Benue, Edo, and Taraba states led to multiple arrests and significant drug seizures, including cannabis, codeine-based syrup, and other illicit substances concealed in vehicles and warehouses.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign, conducting sensitisation programmes in schools across several states to curb drug demand.
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across various commands for their efforts, urging continued balance between drug supply reduction and prevention through public awareness.