Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 38-year-old businesswoman, Iwebema Ogechi Peace, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 7.5 kilograms of cocaine to China through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to Beijing, China.
This was contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the arrest followed credible intelligence, which led to a search of her luggage.
It was gathered that large parcels of cocaine were discovered concealed in a professionally created false bottom of her travel bag.
The agency said Iwebema, who claimed she travelled to China to purchase goods for sale in Nigeria, was unable to conceal the illicit consignment weighing 7.5kg.
In another major operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a massive shipment of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, valued at over N12.3 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure involved 195 large sacks of the illicit drug concealed in a 40-foot container carrying a Ford and Nissan vehicle.
The agency said the shipment, weighing 4,959kg, had been under surveillance for more than four weeks after it was tracked from Toronto, Canada, through different international routes before arriving at Lagos ports.
The container was subjected to a joint examination involving NDLEA officers from the Apapa Strategic Command, the Nigeria Customs Service, other security agencies and port stakeholders, leading to the discovery of the illicit consignment.
The NDLEA also uncovered a syndicate allegedly involved in planting illicit drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers at motor parks.
The operation began after NDLEA operatives in Abuja intercepted a Sienna bus travelling from Nnewi, Anambra State, at Abaji, Federal Capital Territory, on June 20, 2026.
A waybill package containing suspected methamphetamine was recovered from the vehicle. The substance was hidden inside a black nylon bag placed among clothes in another sack, with the receiver’s phone number written on it.
A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of the supposed receiver, Mrs Gloria Peter, at Utako Motor Park. She denied knowledge of the package, prompting further investigation that exposed the alleged involvement of the bus loaders and driver.
The driver reportedly identified Onyebuchi Victor Okoye as the owner of the drug package, leading to his arrest. The recovered methamphetamine weighed 467.7 grams.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at Iddo Motor Park with 209.50kg of Scottish Loud, which was being transported to Enugu.
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The agency also arrested two nationals of Benin Republic, Hossou Tito Julien, 30, and Mancellim Dossou, 19, alongside Nigerian Jackson ThankGod, after intercepting their truck on Mile 2 Bridge.
A search of the truck revealed 558,900 pills of Tramadol 250mg hidden in a fabricated compartment of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, two suspects, Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while transporting 118kg of skunk concealed among legitimate goods in a truck heading to Onitsha, Anambra State.
In another Lagos operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53, at Amukoko with 28.8kg of skunk.
The agency said investigation revealed that Helen allegedly stored illicit drug consignments with Rashidat before distributing them to customers.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of the agency’s commands and special units in disrupting drug trafficking networks.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the fight against drug abuse and trafficking while maintaining public awareness campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
The NDLEA said it would continue to intensify intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling drug supply chains and protecting communities from the effects of illicit substances.
