The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced a series of significant drug busts and arrests across Nigeria, including the apprehension of an Onitsha-based businessman, Ibeanusi Solomon Nosike, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine after 12 days under observation.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesman, revealed that Nosike, 36, was arrested at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, August 8, 2024, while attempting to board a flight to Abuja. Nosike had planned to connect to a Qatar Airways flight to Vietnam from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. After being placed under NDLEA surveillance, Nosike excreted 1.282 kilograms of cocaine over 12 days.
In another case, Paul Okwuy Mbadugha, a 54-year-old businessman, was arrested at the Abuja airport on Monday, August 12, 2024, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. Mbadugha excreted 88 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.710 kilograms, after four days under observation.
Additionally, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of 1.20 kilograms of cannabis concealed in a package destined for Dubai, UAE. This led to the arrest of Aligbo Chukwudi Jacob in Onitsha on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
The agency also arrested five female drug traffickers at the Seme border, led by 42-year-old Olaribigbe Bashirat Feyisara, with 6.97 kilograms of "Loud," a potent strain of cannabis, hidden on their bodies.
In a separate operation at the Tincan seaport in Lagos on Friday, August 23, 2024, NDLEA operatives intercepted two containers from India containing 1,596 cartons of codeine-based syrup, valued at over N2.2 billion.
Other arrests and seizures included suspects in Edo, Lagos, Kogi, and Oyo states, with various quantities of illicit drugs, including codeine syrup, tramadol, cannabis, and skuchies—a mixture of black currant and assorted illicit drugs.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency's officers for their diligence and urged them to continue their efforts in the war against drug abuse across the country.
