……… Agency Intercepts traffickers at Kano Airport, Seme border; arrests* 68-year-old grandma and CEO in nationwide raids.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a series of bizarre trafficking plots across Nigeria. Operatives intercepted a woman at the Seme border using a carved calabash as a “fake baby bump” to hide 3,200 tramadol capsules, while an Ivorian at Kano Airport excreted 82 wraps of cocaine. In a wider nationwide sweep, the agency arrested the CEO of a real estate firm in Lekki and a 68-year-old grandmother, alongside others, during high-stakes raids in Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Delta, and Kogi.
In a statement released on Sunday, February 22, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the following interceptions:
The “Calabash Pregnancy” at Seme Border
On Monday, February 16, 2026, NDLEA officers intercepted 35-year-old Rabi Muhammad at the Seme land border tarmac. Despite her protruding stomach, a body search revealed an absurd concealment method: a fake pregnancy fashioned from a pink-coloured calabash. Hidden inside were 3,200 tramadol capsules she intended to sell in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Similarly, the Agency arrested the Milan-Bound “Mule” at Kano Airport
That same day, operatives at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) intercepted Michael Gohouri (also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael), a 41-year-old Ivorian, during boarding for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy. A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances.
Under observation, Gohouri excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms. The suspect, who holds an Italian residence permit and a Nigerian NIN, confessed he was promised 5,000 Euros to deliver the consignment to Milan after spending weeks shuttling between Lagos, Enugu, and Kano to prepare for the trip.
In another major breakthrough, eagle-eyed NDLEA operatives arrested Kolapo Oladapo Raji, the 57-year-old Chairman/CEO of Trans Fortress Global Resources, a prominent real estate firm. Raji, who had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025, was apprehended at his Safe Court Apartment in Ikate, Lekki, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, following his return from the United Kingdom.
However, a search of his residence uncovered four large bags of “Canadian Loud”—a potent cannabis strain—weighing 89.20kg, along with a 2024 Toyota Hilux. In his statement, the real estate mogul confessed to entering the illicit trade after financing consignments for an overseas associate. He admitted that the hundreds of millions of naira earned in profit motivated him to establish his own independent drug distribution network.
In a series of swift interdictions across Lagos, NDLEA operatives further crippled local supply chains with two significant seizures. On Tuesday, February 17, Ekwe Arinze was intercepted at a motor park in Oshodi with 76kg of skunk. This was followed by the arrest of Ugwuja Kingsley in the Agbara area on Thursday, February 19, who was found in possession of 56kg of the same illicit substance.
In a series of high-stakes operations, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, discovered a staggering 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a single container. The discovery followed a request by the NDLEA for a 100% physical examination of the shipment, conducted alongside Customs and other security agencies based on processed intelligence.
Simultaneously, no fewer than 7,300 pills of high-potency tramadol (225mg), concealed inside two sound systems, were recovered along the Okene/Lokoja highway in Kogi State during a search of a Lagos-to-Kano commuter bus on Sunday, February 15. A strategic follow-up operation in Zuba, Abuja, on Tuesday, February 17, led to the arrest of the two suspects linked to the consignment: Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29.
In a series of landmark successes across Ondo, Bauchi, Delta, and Edo, the NDLEA further dismantled regional drug networks. In Ondo State, operatives raided forest enclaves on Thursday, February 19, arresting Bright Timothy (28) and Godwin Bernard with a combined 393kg of skunk and seeds at Iju.
The offensive intensified in Bauchi, where Yahaya Adamu Gimba (48) was intercepted in Azare with a massive 936kg of skunk. A follow-up operation in the same town led to the recovery of an additional 85.8kg from Gimba and three accomplices: Nasiru Suleman, Abdul Umar, and Musa Suleman.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, Mgbeme Ejeoma (34) was nabbed with 37kg of skunk at Ughelli. The crackdown reached a peak in Edo State, where officers raided the Etiosa camp in Owan West. Operatives destroyed over 1,266kg of cannabis across three farms and recovered 23kg of processed drugs, leading to the arrest of Friday Iruoje (43) and a 68-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Ogenewu.
Maintaining the same vigour, the Agency’s commands and formations nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign, targeting schools, worship centres, workplaces, and local communities over the past week.
Key outreach activities included WADA advocacy lectures for students and staff at:
Oyo: Muslim Community High School, Ayetoro-Oke.
Yobe: Government Girls Secondary School, Gadaka.
Imo: Owerri City Secondary School.
Gombe: Government Day SecondaryMaintaining the same vigour, the Agency’s commands and formations nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign, targeting schools, worship centres, workplaces, and local communities over the past week.
Key outreach activities included WADA advocacy lectures for students and staff at:
Oyo: Muslim Community High School, Ayetoro-Oke.
Yobe: Government Girls Secondary School, Gadaka.
Imo: Owerri City Secondary School.
Gombe: Government Day Secondary School, Tongo.
Cross River: St. Catherine’s College, Igoli, Ogoja.
Kano: Government Senior Girls Secondary School, Kofar Kudu.
Lagos: Model Government College, Ikorodu.
This grassroots offensive ensures that while enforcement dismantles cartels, education fortifies the next generation against the scourge of illicit drugs School, Tongo.
Cross River: St. Catherine’s College, Igoli, Ogoja.
Kano: Government Senior Girls Secondary School, Kofar Kudu.
Lagos: Model Government College, Ikorodu.
This grassroots offensive ensures that while enforcement dismantles cartels, education fortifies the next generation against the scourge of illicit drugs.
While celebrating the agency’s latest triumphs, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the exceptional efforts of the officers and men across the MAKIA, Seme, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, PHPC, Ondo, Delta, and Kogi Commands.
Commending the strategic arrests and massive seizures, Gen. Marwa emphasized that these operational successes, and those of their compatriots nationwide, reflect a highly effective balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction. He noted that their relentless dedication to sanitizing the country is deeply appreciated and vital to the agency’s mission.
