Suspects Arrested As NDLEA Uncovers Drugs Hidden In Snails, Bulbs

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered multiple attempts to smuggle hard drugs disguised in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothes bound for the United States, United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, October 19, saying the operations were carried out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos.

According to Babafemi, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures.

One of the suspects, a cargo agent identified as Boladale Riliwan, was arrested on October 7, 2025, after NDLEA operatives discovered 15 parcels of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis) concealed inside 10 giant rechargeable electrical bulbs he had presented for airfreight to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The interception was made at the export shed of the Lagos airport,” Babafemi said.

In a separate operation, a 48-year-old UK-based public health assistant, Olawale Hakeemot, was apprehended on October 12 at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manchester.

Hakeemot was found with 2,300 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed in packs of frozen snails.

“Attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam hidden in female clothes going to the United States was also thwarted by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, October 16,” Babafemi reported.

Tramadol Hidden in Car Compartments in Adamawa

The NDLEA also intercepted a drug courier, Bello Buba, at an NDLEA checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The suspect was caught with 38,270 pills of Tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic.

“Buba drove all the way from the Benin Republic to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria,” Babafemi said.

In Ekiti State, operatives destroyed 53,250 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on 21.3 hectares of farmland in Ilawe-Ekiti and recovered another 1,140 kilograms packed in 70 bags.

Three suspects, Matthew Emmanuel (26), James Moses (27), and Israel Samuel (20) — were arrested during the two-day operation, which took place between October 12 and 13.

Similarly, in Ondo State, NDLEA agents destroyed 17,400 kilograms of cannabis on 6.96 hectares of farmland in the Aponmu Forest Reserve, Akure, on October 12.

In Oyo State, four suspects, Aliyu Muhammed (50), Babarinde Segun (32), Ogunbiyi Sanjo (30), and Ajani Oluro (30), were nabbed with 596 kilograms of skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora, while Jacob Afolabi (30) and Salako Oluwatobi (25) were caught with 273 kilograms at Odo-Oyan, Igangan on October 16.

In Ogun State, Joseph Andrew was arrested with 88 kilograms of cannabis at Ona-Imeko, while in Imo State, Festus Udoh (42) was intercepted along the Onitsha-Owerri Road with 13,000 pills of opioids.

In Enugu, NDLEA operatives recovered 74.5 kilograms of cannabis from a store owned by Joseph Chukwujamaa at Umuogbo-Agu village on October 18.

The same day in Mushin, Lagos, officers seized 11 bags of cannabis weighing 117 kilograms from the base of a suspect identified as Ramoni Olukowi.

80,000 Bottles of Codeine Syrup Intercepted at Apapa Port

In a major joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, NDLEA operatives intercepted 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in a container from India at the Apapa Port on October 14.

Babafemi said the shipment had been under watch before its arrival and was flagged during a joint examination.

Earlier this month, it was reported that a 52-year-old businessman, Ejiofor Godwin Emeka, excreted 69 wraps of cocaine after being arrested by NDLEA officers at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.

Ejiofor, who runs boutiques in Lagos and Onitsha, was intercepted on October 8, 2025, upon arrival from Bangkok, Thailand, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, following credible intelligence.

Babafemi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks across the country, warning that the NDLEA “will continue to frustrate desperate attempts by syndicates to move illicit drugs through airports, seaports, or border routes.”