Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have made significant drug busts in recent days, including the arrest of a businessman at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the interception of two boats loaded with illicit drugs in Lagos.
According to Femi Babafemi,Director, Media & Advocacy ,NDLEA Headquarters ” On Sunday, December 22, 2024, NDLEA officials apprehended 48-year-old businessman Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur as he attempted to board Air France Flight 844 to Paris.
He was caught with 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine ingested in his stomach. Orizu, who initially refused a body scan citing medical reasons, was later taken into custody for observation, during which he excreted the drugs over a period of seven days. In his statement, Orizu revealed he owned a shop in Lagos’ Balogun market and was promised 3,000 Euros for successfully delivering the drugs to Paris.
In a separate operation on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, NDLEA’s Marine Command intercepted two boats at Eleko Beach in Lagos, uncovering 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis. Six foreign nationals, including two Ghanaians—Godsway John, 38, and Freedom Kelvin, 33—and four Beninese—Chegoun Hounsou, 23; Gadabor Nyameto, 47; Adantg Sasa, 34; and Ayao Kayivi, 21—were arrested in connection with the shipment.
On Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, Ibrahim Shaibu, 35, was arrested in Katsina with 35 kilograms of compressed cannabis sativa at the Central Motor Park. Three days later, another suspect, Umar Ahmed, 47, was nabbed along the Zaria-Malumfashi road with 13.5 kilograms of the same drug.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 21-year-old Kosisochukwu Ozigbo on December 23, 2024, at New Lagos Road in Benin City. A raid of the area resulted in the recovery of 32,490 pills of various strengths of tramadol, 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and other opioids.
In addition to their interdiction efforts, NDLEA commands across the country have been balancing drug supply reduction operations with advocacy campaigns as part of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). These include sensitization lectures in schools, markets, and communities, such as one delivered by the Lagos State Strategic Command in collaboration with Menitos Foundation to residents of Akoka community.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the efforts of the agency’s personnel for their successful operations over the past week. He urged them to continue their offensive actions against drug cartels in the new year while maintaining strong advocacy efforts across the country
