NDLEA intercepts U.S., Italy-bound cocaine hidden in prayer beads

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted illicit consignments such as cocaine, tramadol, Loud, Molly, and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths going to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The illicit drugs were scheduled to be moved abroad through logistics firms and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

Babafemi stated that two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at Lagos airport had been arrested.

Babafemi identified one of the suspects as a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, March 8.

He said when the suspect was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage.

“In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy,” the NDLEA spokesperson added.

Babafemi noted that NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400grams of skunk going to New York in United States on Tuesday, March 11.

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Babafemi added: “At some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI).

“Other shipments of 230grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland, and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.”

While commending the anti-narcotic officers for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), stated that their operational successes, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, were well appreciated.

The Star