NDLEA intercepts Qatar-bound drugs hidden in crayfish at Lagos airport

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted illicit drugs concealed in crayfish at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this via a statement issued on Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Babafemi said NDLEA officers, at the Terminal 2 departure gate of the Lagos airport, intercepted a passenger, Onyeganochi Stanley Ifeanyi, while travelling on a Qatar Airline flight to Doha on September 7.

Babafemi revealed that a search of Ifeanyi’s bag led to the recovery of 900grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in crayfish.

Babafemi said Onyeganochi, a first-time traveller, claimed the bag was given to him to help take to Doha by a Qatar-based Nigerian, Ohadiegwu Anthony Uchenna, who followed him to the airport.

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The NDLEA spokesperson stated: “His confession led to the arrest of Uchenna, who was still within view. Operatives who later conducted a search of Uchenna’s hotel room in Ajao estate discovered an additional 200grams of the same psychoactive substance.

“He claimed he was to return to Doha days later and pick the bag from the unsuspecting Onyeganochi if he had succeeded in escaping security checks.”

He noted that two separate shipments of methamphetamine concealed in a picture frame and Loud, hidden in video players were seized at two courier companies in Lagos on September 8 and September 11, respectively, by NDLEA operatives.

Babaafemi added that while six grams of meth recovered from the picture frame were meant for delivery in Gabon, 1.1kg Loud in the decoder machines was heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Star