The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman attempting to smuggle 87 wraps of cocaine out of Nigeria after concealing the drugs around her pelvic region.
The suspect, identified as Farida Nansubuga, was apprehended on November 3 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to board a flight to Uganda.
According to the agency, the woman had arrived in Nigeria on October 29 with members of her church for a spiritual renewal programme at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in the Ikotun area of Lagos.
However, while other members of her delegation returned home after the religious programme, Nansubuga reportedly remained behind to collect a cocaine consignment allegedly arranged by an associate in Uganda.
NDLEA operatives intercepted her during a joint passenger screening exercise with aviation security personnel at Terminal 2 of the airport.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of 87 cocaine wraps weighing 1.15 kilogrammes, which were strapped around her pelvic area and concealed beneath two layers of underwear.
During interrogation, she allegedly told investigators that she was transporting the drugs on behalf of a friend identified as Joy, who had linked her with a contact in Nigeria.
She reportedly expected to receive at least $1,000 upon successful delivery of the consignment.
The arrest was among several major drug seizures and arrests recorded by the NDLEA across the country in recent operations.
At the Lagos airport, operatives also intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at about N900 million.
The opioid shipment arrived from India aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight and was declared as Paracetamol 500mg tablets. A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service reportedly revealed that 10 of the 11 cartons contained Tapentadol, while only one carried the declared medication.
In another operation at the airport, 32 parcels of Loud, a potent cannabis strain weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, were discovered inside two wooden sofas shipped from Houston, United States.
A freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, and a 34-year-old caterer, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
The agency also dismantled an alleged network involved in importing chemicals used in the production of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, from the United Kingdom.
NDLEA operatives intercepted parcels concealed in cartons of snacks and detergent, recovering cannabis and chemicals weighing a combined 29.85 kilogrammes. Three suspects, including a 51-year-old freight agent, were arrested during the operation.
Further seizures were recorded at courier facilities, where operatives intercepted 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes destined for the United Kingdom. Other consignments included Swinol tablets bound for Australia and various shipments of tramadol concealed in vitamin containers and women’s headwear.
In a separate raid in Apapa, Lagos, a 32-year-old man, Abubakar Ali, was arrested after officers discovered a concealed drug storage facility inside his apartment. Recovered substances included tramadol, pregabalin, diazepam, codeine and cannabis.
Across other states, the agency reported significant seizures.
In Ondo State, officers recovered 1,818 kilogrammes of cannabis from Odofin Road, Uso, while another operation at Board Forest led to the destruction of a one-hectare cannabis plantation and the recovery of 242 kilogrammes of the substance.
Operations in Ekiti, Edo, Taraba, Enugu and Delta states also resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, ketamine and other controlled substances.
In Taraba, three suspects were arrested within two days with 283 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing more than 226 kilogrammes.
Commenting on the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel across the affected commands for their efforts.
Marwa described the Ugandan woman’s arrest as a troubling indication of how drug trafficking networks exploit religious journeys and other seemingly legitimate activities to recruit couriers.
He urged officers to sustain the agency’s enforcement and public enlightenment campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse initiative.
The NDLEA said its sensitisation activities also continued in schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities across the country during the period under review.