Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have foiled attempts by suspected traffickers to smuggle illicit drugs through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and the Seme border, uncovering substances concealed in a fake pregnancy and inside a suspect’s stomach.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to the agency, a 35-year-old businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, was intercepted at the Seme land border on February 16, 2026, while attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic.
NDLEA operatives became suspicious after noticing her protruding stomach. A full body search later revealed that the pregnancy was fake, with a pink-coloured calabash strapped to her abdomen containing 3,200 capsules of tramadol intended for sale across the border.
In a related operation the same day, NDLEA officers at the Kano airport screening point intercepted a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Michael Gohouri, during outward clearance for passengers boarding an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa.
A body scan confirmed ingestion of illicit substances. He was subsequently placed under observation and later excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes.
The agency said Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan on January 17, 2026, and travelled between Lagos and Enugu for three weeks before proceeding to Kano, where he allegedly ingested the cocaine consignment in a hotel room. He was reportedly to be paid €5,000 upon delivery of the drugs in Milan.
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In another development, NDLEA operatives arrested the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources, Kolapo Oladapo Raji, at his residence in Ikate, Lekki, Lagos, following intelligence linking him to drug trafficking.
The agency said Raji, who had been on its watchlist since 2025, was arrested on February 12, 2026, shortly after his return from the United Kingdom.
A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of four large bags containing 89.2 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis. A 2024 Toyota Hilux vehicle was also recovered at the point of arrest.
According to the NDLEA, Raji admitted financing drug consignments for an overseas associate before establishing his own distribution network after receiving substantial profits.
The agency said investigations into the cases are ongoing.