In a sustained offensive against drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted ₦3bn worth of heroin concealed in coffee packs at the Abuja airport and seized a major shipment of explosives bound for Kano and Kaduna. In a nationwide clampdown that spanned Borno, Lagos, and several other states, the Agency recovered tons of illicit substances and arrested key suspects, including a Brazilian lady, an Edo village head, and a 72-year-old grandfather.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed a massive breakthroug in a statement on Sunday, January 25, 2026, that:
“Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian national, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. She was intercepted with 30.09 kilograms of white heroin—valued at over ₦3 billion—cleverly concealed within factory-sealed coffee packs.
According to the NDLEA:
“The suspect, a Brazilian private security professional, arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Friday, January 23, unaware that her every move was being monitored via processed intelligence. Though she arrived on Qatar Airways flight QR1431 under the guise of a holiday seeker, a search of her luggage told a different story. Hidden within 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee was a record-breaking 30.09kg of white heroin. This massive recovery stands as the largest heroin bust ever recorded at the Abuja airport, shattering the suspect’s ‘vacation’ cover story.
NDLEA’s multi-modal offensive continued at Lagos’ air and sea ports. At MMIA, operatives thwarted an attempt by Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko to smuggle nearly 4,000 illicit pills—including Tapentadol and Tramaking—to Turkey by hiding them inside food items. Both suspects were offloaded from their Turkish Airlines flight on January 20.
Similarly, by January 22, the Agency’s Marine Command struck again, intercepting a massive 1,848kg shipment of “Ghana Loud” at Lekki’s Jakande Beach. Acting on a 1:00 AM intelligence tip, officers seized the wooden boat and its 44 jumbo bags of cannabis just as they arrived from Ghana, marking another major blow to international drug syndicates.
Meanwhile, as part of a strategic highway crackdown, NDLEA operatives on Friday, January 23, 2026, arrested ”two suspects, Aminu Ali Baba (20) and Abdulrasheed Abubakar (28), in connection with the seizure of 140 packets of explosives. The dangerous consignment, bound for Kano and Kaduna, was intercepted in a commercial bus along the Kaduna–Zaria highway. Swift follow-up operations led to the arrest of Ali Baba at Karota Park, Kano, and Abubakar at Mando Park, Kaduna. This followed an intelligence-led raid in Kwangila, Zaria, on Thursday, January 22, where Fatima Ibrahim (42) and Adejimoh Ismaila (44) were apprehended with 120kg of recovered skunk.”
In a targeted strike to dismantle the drug supply chains fueling terror groups, ”NDLEA operatives in Borno State intercepted 179,590 pills of Tramadol and Diazepam on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The illicit shipment was found cleverly concealed within sacks of charcoal and animal feed inside a public transport vehicle arriving from Potiskum, Yobe State. A swift follow-up operation in the Bulabulin area of Maiduguri led to the arrest of the consignment’s owner, 32-year-old Rabiu Imam.”
While in a dramatic twist, a woman is set to join her husband behind bars following her arrest for drug trafficking. ”Mrs. Eze Cynthia Chioma was apprehended in Mokwa, Niger State, on Friday, January 23, 2026, during a tactical follow-up operation. Her arrest came after NDLEA operatives at Bode Saadu, Kwara State, intercepted a Lagos-bound truck carrying her consignment of 78,500 Tramadol pills earlier that day. Remarkably, her husband is currently remanded in prison and facing trial for the exact same offense.”
However, in what could be described as age proved no barrier in the NDLEA’s latest sweep through Ekiti, where ”a 72-year-old grandfather and a notorious local dealer were taken into custody. On January 24, operatives raided addresses in Ilawe-Ekiti, arresting Afolalu Joseph and Abu Bunmi (alias ‘Go Slow’) for illicit drug trafficking. The operation yielded 62kg of skunk, marking another significant recovery in the Agency’s ongoing statewide offensive.”
In a startling breach of public trust, a traditional leader was among those apprehended in the NDLEA’s latest sweep. ”Chief James Abamu, a village head, and another suspect, Aboy Egah Abamu, were taken into custody by the Edo State Command following their arrest by soldiers of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade. The duo was nabbed during a raid at Lagos Camp, Ilushi, in Esan South East LGA on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. A massive haul of 681kg of cannabis (skunk) and 181kg of cannabis seeds was recovered from them during the operation.”
In Kano State, the Agency’s offensive led to the arrest of a three-man syndicate—Abba Hassan, Anas Moh’d Auwal, and Sadik Ismail—on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. The suspects were apprehended in the Sabon Gari area of the city, where 1,000 ampoules of Pentazocine injection were recovered from them.”
During operations in Oyo State on Thursday, January 22, operatives at Paris Lounge on Ring Road, Ibadan, arrested Olajumoke Ridwan and Baruwa Ibukun in connection with the recovery of 181.5 litres of a seized substance.”
The Agency’s momentum shifted to Benue State, where operatives arrested a female suspect, Janet Iornongu, in Yes Ikyuan village, Guma LGA, following the recovery of 210kg of skunk. Similarly, 254.5kg of the same psychoactive substance was seized from Anita Job along the Abaji-Toto Road, FCT, on Thursday, January 22. In a separate interception, 39,800 pills of high-potency Tramadol (225mg) were recovered from two suspects.”
NDLEA tactical sweep extended to Lagos, Delta, and Ondo States, beginning with the arrest of ” Hamisu Misbahu and Chima Obi in the Alaba Rago, Mile 2 area of Lagos on Monday, January 19. On Thursday, January 22, NDLEA officers along Sapele Road in Warri, Delta State, intercepted Chinyecherem Cyprian Ugwu, seizing over 30,000 pills of Tramadol, Molly, and other opioids, alongside 20 litres of codeine syrup. The week’s operations culminated in Ondo State on Friday, January 23, where 57-year-old Kayode Obameye was apprehended at the Mobil Roundabout in Akure with a staggering 1,500 kilograms of skunk recovered from him.”
The NDLEA’s ‘War Against Drug Abuse’ (WADA) initiative reached deep into the heart of Nigerian communities this week. Shifting from raids to education, operatives hosted sensitization lectures in classrooms and workplaces nationwide. From the Government Science Secondary School in Jalingo to Beloved Montessori in Osun, and schools across Owerri, Otukpo, and Katsina, the Agency is empowering the next generation with the knowledge to stay drug-free.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the officers and men of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Marine, and several state commands—including Borno, Lagos, Edo, and the FCT—for their dexterity in achieving these record-breaking seizures.
While applauding the successful operations across the country, he charged the personnel to sustain this high standard of professionalism in their dual mission of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.
