The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted an Italy-bound businessman with 4.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed in shoes and travelling bags, while seizing illicit drugs worth more than ₦5 billion in coordinated operations across several states and major ports.
The latest crackdown also led to the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker, a fugitive who had been on the run for six years, and several other suspects, as the agency intensified its intelligence-led campaign against narcotics trafficking and local drug syndicates.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, October 4, 2026, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, 38-year-old Philip Tunde was arrested on Sunday, September 27, at the Terminal 2 joint screening point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Tunde was intercepted while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.
A search by NDLEA operatives uncovered 16 parcels of white powder concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, as well as 195 wraps hidden in the railings of four travelling bags.
Forensic analysis confirmed the substance as cocaine, weighing 4.80kg in total.
During interrogation, Tunde reportedly said he paid ₦16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment hidden in the travelling bags was intended for delivery to a business partner in Italy.
He also claimed the money used to purchase the drugs came from compensation he received after suffering an industrial accident at an Italian plastic manufacturing company, where he lost the tips of two fingers.
Multi-billion-naira seizures at seaports
The NDLEA’s maritime commands also recorded major seizures at the Apapa, Tincan Island and Onne seaports, involving Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and codeine-based cough syrup.
At the Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders, subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to a 100 per cent physical examination.
The search of one of the containers led to the recovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg. The consignment, concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons, was valued at about ₦372 million.
At the Onne Port in Rivers State, intelligence-led operations resulted in the seizure of 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg. The drugs were hidden inside a travelling bag and concealed within three of five imported vehicles — a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra.
Another container at the port contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg.
The container originated from India and passed through Saudi Arabia, where its original shipping history was allegedly deleted in an attempt to evade security checks.
The combined street value of the Loud and codeine consignments seized at Onne was put at ₦833.2 million.
At the Tincan Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, September 29, jointly examined a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg.
The drugs were packed inside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags and concealed in an imported Toyota Sienna and Hyundai Elantra. The consignment was valued at more than ₦3.8 billion.
Cannabis plantation destroyed in Osun
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234kg of skunk discovered on an 8.0936-hectare cannabis plantation in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area.
In Plateau State, 41-year-old Agbo Dennis was arrested in the West of Mines area of Jos North following the intelligence-led seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.
The agency also raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, Lagos, on Monday, September 28, recovering 209,000 tramadol tablets.
Two days later, a follow-up operation at Ladipo Spare Parts Market led to the arrest of 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo.
Taiwo was allegedly linked to a waybill package intercepted from a commercial bus travelling along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The package contained 61 grams of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24 grams of methamphetamine concealed inside an energy drink bottle.
Methamphetamine seizures in Kogi, Abuja
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway intercepted a Lagos-to-Abuja commuter bus on Wednesday, September 30.
A search of a waybill package uncovered 1kg of methamphetamine concealed inside two sachets.
Following an immediate sting operation, operatives traced and arrested the alleged owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, at Utako in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In Edo State, operatives on Friday, October 2, raided the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi in Uyere community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, recovering 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.
At Auchi Bypass in Benin City, 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael was also arrested with 59 grams of Loud, 12 grams of Colorado, 19 grams of Tramadol, 16 grams of methamphetamine and traces of Swinol and Molly.
Six-year fugitive arrested
The NDLEA also recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of 47-year-old Idris Mohammed Kurra on Tuesday, September 29, six years after he allegedly jumped bail.
Kurra was standing trial before the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, over alleged trafficking in 198kg of skunk when he reportedly absconded after being granted bail in December 2020.
NDLEA sustains drug abuse prevention campaign
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres and marketplaces across the country.
The agency conducted drug-awareness lectures for students and faculty members at institutions including St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oji, Enugu; Olu-Odo Primary School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos; Government Junior Secondary School, Tsamiya, Kano; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti; and Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State.
Commending the operations, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised personnel of the MMIA, Apapa, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau and Osun Commands for what he described as intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged officers nationwide to sustain the fight against drug trafficking syndicates while maintaining the agency’s enforcement and preventive drug-control strategies.