NDLEA arrests Brazil returnees, businesswoman, others in major drug busts across states

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded multiple seizures and arrests in its ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, including two Brazil returnees who excreted 116 wraps of heroin and cocaine after their arrest at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

In a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the agency said 46-year-old Ofoma Sunday and 36-year-old Ukachukwu Frank Ikechukwu were arrested on arrival from Brazil on Ethiopian Airlines flights.

Ofoma excreted 111 wraps of heroin weighing 1.45kg, while Ukachukwu expelled five wraps of cocaine weighing 145 grams after concealing the drugs in his body.

A follow-up operation also led to the arrest of Nweke Jude Chuckwudi, who was to receive the consignment.

In another incident, NDLEA operatives at Lagos airport arrested businesswoman Okolonkwo Ebere Theresa on September 14 for concealing 1.40kg of methamphetamine in her butt pad underwear while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Doha.

Similarly, officers intercepted a cargo of food items containing 2.30kg of meth bound for Hong Kong, and discovered 257g of cocaine hidden inside phone chargers heading to New Zealand.

Major raids across states also yielded significant seizures.

In Adamawa, operatives recovered 233,800 tramadol pills in multiple operations, while in Zamfara, over 1,099kg of cannabis skunk was intercepted in a truck.

In Edo State, NDLEA destroyed two cannabis farms covering over 4.5 hectares, with an estimated yield of 11.3 tonnes, arresting three suspects at the scene.

Additional arrests and seizures were made in Yobe and Taraba states.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for the successful operations, stressing that the agency remains committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks and safeguarding Nigerian youths from illicit substances.