Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled attempts by members of Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTOs) to move consignments of illicit substances at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
  
The substances, especially methamphetamine and opioids were concealed in walls of cartons, winter jackets, and body cream containers for onward movement to countries in Europe.
  
Two of the consignments heading to Italy were to be moved through the Lagos airport where two suspects linked to the shipments were promptly arrested. 
  
One of them, 37-year-old Friday Ehianuka, was going to Rome, Italy, on Friday, March 20, 2026 when he was intercepted while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight with 2,698 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in containers of skin-lightening body cream, all packed in the suspect’s luggage.
 
Ehianuka, who is a resident of Milan, confirmed that he was to be paid a negotiated fee in euros if he had succeeded in trafficking the consignment to Italy.
  
In another drug bust, NDLEA operatives at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Wednesday March 18, intercepted a passenger, Christian Agbonhese, who was attempting to board a Lufthansa Airlines flight to Milan, Italy. Upon a thorough search of his luggage, no fewer than 23,150 pills of tramadol 225mg; 4,000 tablets of tapentadol 250mg and 1,320 pills of tramadol 100mg.

Were all concealed in two large winter jackets, bringing the total number of opioids recovered from him to 28,470 pills. The 38-year-old Agbonhese is also a resident of Milan.
  
At a courier firm in Lagos, NDLEA officers on Monday, March 16, intercepted two parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 1kg, hidden in a carton shipped to Lagos from the United States. Also thwarted was an attempt to export 158 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a carton to New Zealand.
  
In Kano, NDLEA operatives, on March 18, arrested Abdulkadir Mamuda, 35, with 102.5kg skunk at Dan-Tsalle, while Uche Johnson Festus, 47, was nabbed the same day at Naibawa Gabas, with 95.5kg of the same psychoactive substance.
 
About 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a store at Otto, Ijora area of Lagos when NDLEA operatives raided the area on  March 18, while Chidiebere Anigbogu and Paul Nwagbara were arrested the same day on Third Mainland Bridge, conveying 8,380 bottles of the same substance.
  
While 97.5kg skunk was recovered from the home of Akeem Idde, 37, in Ojah, Akoko-Edo Local Council of Edo State, on March 16, NDLEA operatives in Abuja on March 18,  intercepted a commercial bus along Gwagwalada Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 91,840 pills of tramadol hidden in its body compartments. The bus driver, Aminu Ali, 27, was promptly taken into custody.
  
In Oyo State, Bankole Bari was on March 17,  arrested at Oke-Oyan, Ibarapa Local Council with 71.2kg of skunk, which he smuggled into Nigeria from Benin Republic through the Oyan river.
  
About 586,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered by NDLEA operatives from Lawal Anas, 28, along Kaduna-Zaria highway, Kaduna on Tuesday, March 17, while 7,290 tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized from Musa Shuaibu, 22, at the same location on Friday, March 20. 
  
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives in Taraba State on March 17, intercepted Aliyu Adamu, 26, along Takum-Jalingo highway while conveying 77,660 capsules of tramadol to Gombe.
  
In Adamawa State, about six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 82.8kg of tramadol in a truck in Yola on March 17. 
  
Suspects, who are joint owners of the consignment, include: Ramatu Aliyu, Jungudo Abdullahi, Najid Abdullahi, Musa Mohammed, Usman Abdulrahim and Musa Mohammed. They were all arrested in swift follow-up operations.
  
In like manner, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities in the past week. 
  
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, FCT, Taraba and Adamawa commands for the arrests and seizures.
  
He enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.