NDLEA intercepts Italy-bound drugs hidden in winter jackets, seizes N1.1bn opioids

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted an Italy-bound passenger, Edobor Ambrose Ali, on an Air France flight with illicit drugs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

The passenger was arrested at the Lagos airport in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025.

The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this via a statement issued on Sunday, June 15, said the anti-narcotic officers in collaboration with the aviation security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) discovered drug consignments hidden in the luggage of the suspect during baggage scanning at the tarmac.

Babafemi said the suspect was thereafter brought down from the aircraft for baggage identification after which a thorough search of the bag led to the discovery of 14,410 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg concealed in winter jackets.

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“In his statement, Ebodor said he lives in Italy where he was hired and sent on the all expense paid trip to Nigeria to courier the drug consignments to Milan, Italy for a fee of 2000 Euros,” Babafemi revealed.

He added that the NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports in Onne, Rivers State, intercepted a shipment of 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion naira in street value on Friday, June 13.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the opioid consignments were hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares.

The Star