NDLEA intercepts drugs hidden in black soap, clothing bound for US, Canada, Sweden
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs ingeniously concealed in containers of local black soap and designer clothing, with the shipments destined for the United States, Canada and Sweden.
The agency said no fewer than 907 pills of controlled substances, including tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam, were seized at two major courier companies in Lagos between December 9 and 10, 2025. NDLEA operatives discovered that the drugs had been carefully hidden inside black soap containers and clothing items to evade detection.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers uncovered a clandestine codeine syrup manufacturing factory at Amapu Igbengwo village in Umuakpara, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State. The raid, carried out on December 11, led to the recovery of 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing over 1,152 kilograms.
The agency also recorded a major seizure at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, where a container loaded with 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup, weighing about 23,579 kilograms, was intercepted during a joint examination involving the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
Across other parts of the country, NDLEA commands made additional arrests and seizures. At the Seme border in Lagos State, operatives intercepted 50,000 pills of tramadol, while another 40,000 tramadol capsules were recovered in Gombe State. Several suspects were also arrested with large quantities of skunk and other illicit substances in different states.
Meanwhile, the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign nationwide, reaching schools, traditional institutions and communities in Katsina, Kano, Benue and Enugu states as part of efforts to curb drug abuse and related crimes.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised their professionalism and dedication, reiterating the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks while intensifying prevention and public awareness efforts across Nigeria.
