NDLEA nabs woman concealing 2.2kg cocaine in luggage at Lagos Airport

Uncovers More Drug Shipments Across States

A 43-year-old make-up artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, who claimed she was heading to India for fibroid surgery, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, after 2.2 kilograms of cocaine were discovered concealed within the walls of her suitcase.

The arrest took place on Monday, June 16, 2025, following credible intelligence. NDLEA agents monitored Adekoya as she checked in for a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha, and apprehended her just before boarding. Upon inspection, two concealed parcels of cocaine were found hidden inside her luggage. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being recruited by a wanted drug kingpin, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, owner of Rockford Hotel in Sango, Ogun State, who resides in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos. She admitted her medical travel claim was a ruse to smuggle the drugs for financial gain.

Meanwhile, in separate operations in Lagos, NDLEA’s Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted illicit shipments at courier companies. On Wednesday, June 18, 850 grams of cocaine were discovered hidden in clothing hangers bound for Australia. A day later, on Thursday, June 19, operatives intercepted a package of sewn female dresses containing 1.3kg of Loud, a potent cannabis variant, headed for Bahrain.

In Bauchi State, officers acting on intelligence apprehended two suspects, Ibrahim Galadima (37) and Ibrahim Muhammed (28), along the Bauchi–Darazo road on Monday, June 16. They were found in possession of 1,013,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.

Also arrested was Bishir Isyaku (38) along Kaduna–Zaria Expressway on Tuesday, June 17. He was caught transporting 14.2kg of skunk hidden in charcoal sacks and 198kg of rubber solution. In Abuja, on Wednesday, June 18, six suspects — including Murtala Adamu and Ahmed Isma’il — were arrested during raids in the Karu Abattoir and Torabora areas. Seized from them were 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine.

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Zaria–Kano road arrested Umar Hamisu (19) and Dahiru Abdullahi (32) on Thursday, June 19, with 56.2kg of skunk. On the same day, Obiwuru Henry (27) was caught with 23,720 capsules of tramadol and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine along Jaba Road in Fagge LGA. Two additional suspects, Abubakar Modu (60) and Abdulkadir Muhammed (28), were apprehended on Saturday, June 21, with 36.6kg and 32kg of skunk respectively.

In Kwara State, a 22-year-old student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Olotin Nifemi, known for dealing illicit substances to fellow students, was arrested on Thursday, June 19, with 1kg of skunk at her residence along Kwara Poly Road in Ilorin.

Further south in Edo State, NDLEA agents on Friday, June 20, destroyed 4,226.11kg of cannabis at Ugbada camp in Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA. One suspect, Albert Shamaki (33), was apprehended during the operation. A day earlier, a raid at Big Jamaya supermarket in Emado, Esan West LGA, led to the arrest of Esther Abumere (28) and the seizure of various drugs including Colorado, Loud, Molly, and Tramadol. Another raid at Idumeka, Igueben, resulted in the seizure of 1.143kg of skunk and the arrest of 38-year-old Eko Gift.

Meanwhile, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy continued nationwide. Highlights included sensitization lectures at Government Day Arabic Secondary School in Guri, Jigawa; Government College, Lafia, Nasarawa; Atodo Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi; Natsugunne Junior Secondary School, Jabba, Kano; and Shallom Academy, Ibagwa, Enugu. The Osun State NDLEA Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at his palace in Ile-Ife.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across MMIA, DOGI, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Edo, and the FCT for their diligent efforts. He praised their balanced approach to tackling both the supply and demand aspects of drug control across the country.