NDLEA Intercepts Drugs in Microwaves, Lipsticks, Arrests Kingpin

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have carried out a wave of successful raids across Nigeria, intercepting sophisticated drug consignments hidden in everyday items and arresting multiple suspects — including a 50-year-old drug kingpin who had evaded capture for nearly a year.

One of the most brazen smuggling attempts was uncovered at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives intercepted 23 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 11.3 kilograms. The drugs were ingeniously concealed inside brand-new microwaves imported from Thailand via Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa.

In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that the seizure was made on Monday, July 7, based on credible intelligence.

“The Loud consignment was part of a consolidated cargo that came in two tranches on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Based on credible intelligence, the cargo was subjected to a thorough search during which 23 parcels of Loud weighing 11.3kg concealed in new microwaves were recovered on Monday, 7th July 2025.

A suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike has been arrested in connection with the seizure,” the statement partly read.

Just days later, NDLEA officers at the airport’s export shed made another shocking discovery. A shipment of ladies’ cosmetics destined for Malabo, Guinea, was found to contain 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine — a dangerous cutting agent — hidden inside lipstick containers.

“Barely a week after a total of 420 grams of cocaine factory-fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK were seized at a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport have intercepted another consignment of cocaine built into ladies’ lipsticks as part of a cargo containing hair attachments, face powder, and other items heading to Malabo, Guinea,” Babafemi said.

“No less than 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine, a cutting agent, were recovered from the lipsticks when dismantled, while a businessman at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, was arrested on Friday, 11th July, in connection with the seizure.”

In another major breakthrough, NDLEA operatives finally apprehended Okechukwu Izugha, popularly known as Okey Omeogo — a suspected drug kingpin who had been on the run since August 2024. He was arrested on Wednesday, July 9, at his wife’s shop inside Ijesha Market, Lagos.

“Izugha came under NDLEA radar on 7th August 2024 after a 9kg cocaine was recovered from a suspect, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at a motor park in Orile, Lagos, while going to deliver the consignment in the southeast. Izugha was identified as the owner of the seized drug,” Babafemi said.

“In the course of investigating the kingpin and his network, his wife, Maureen Izugha, was arrested with 500 grams of cocaine at her beverage store in Ijesha market on 21st January 2025. She was thereafter arraigned in court, convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Unknown to him that NDLEA was still on his trail, the wanted kingpin came out of his hiding and was promptly arrested last Wednesday,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA agents raided three large cannabis farms deep inside the Ewere Uzebba forest in Owan West Local Government Area. Over 28,000 kilograms of cannabis plants — cultivated across 11 hectares — were destroyed. Officers also recovered 82kg of processed cannabis. The team came under fire from armed cartel members while exiting the forest, but successfully repelled the attack. One operational vehicle was damaged by bullets, though no officers were harmed.

In another high-volume interception, operatives in Lagos seized 1,400 blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis weighing 700kg at Okun-Ajah Beach. A Ford delivery truck was impounded, and two suspects — Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul — were arrested.

Additional raids in Lagos yielded 26 kilograms of cannabis, 123 grams of methamphetamine, 45 grams of Molly, and another delivery van used in drug distribution.

In Borno State, officers arrested Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi, 42, on Saturday, July 12, with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, along with pills of tramadol and rohypnol at Njimtilo, Maiduguri. This followed the earlier seizure of 10,000 tramadol pills from 34-year-old Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu on Wednesday, July 9.

In Gombe State, five suspects — Hafiz Bello (22), Isah Suleman (48), Kabiru Muhammed (30), Abdullahi Adamu (30), and Abel Murna (25) — were arrested at the Gombe Main Market and along the Gombe-Kano Road on July 8 and July 12. NDLEA agents recovered a total of 116,226 pills of tramadol and D5 from their hideouts.

The agency also reported the arrest of Sabiu Bala on Thursday, July 10, along the Okene–Lokoja expressway in Kogi State, with 316.6 kilograms of cannabis. Another suspect, Haladu Suleiman, 38, was apprehended in the Gubuchi area of Ikara Local Government Area, Kaduna State, with 58.8 kilograms of the same substance.

These sweeping operations highlight NDLEA’s intensified efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks across Nigeria, using intelligence-driven methods and coordinated raids across multiple states.