Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothing, bound for the United States, United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The seizures were made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos.At least two suspects linked to the export attempts are already in custody. One of them, a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan, was arrested on October 7, 2025, after NDLEA operatives discovered 15 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, hidden in 10 giant rechargeable electrical bulbs he presented for airfreight to the DRC at the airport’s export shed.

Another suspect, 48-year-old Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, a United Kingdom-based Public Health Assistant, was apprehended on October 12, 2025, at the departure hall of Terminal 2, MMIA, Ikeja. Frozen snails found in her luggage were used to conceal 2,300 pills of tramadol (225mg) as she prepared to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manchester, United Kingdom.

An attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam hidden in women’s clothing to the United States was also foiled by NDLEA officers at a courier firm in Lagos on October 16, 2025.

In Adamawa State, a suspect, Bello Buba, was arrested at an NDLEA checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South Local Council, with 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic. He was reportedly driving from Benin Republic to smuggle the consignment into Nigeria on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

In Ekiti State, no fewer than 53,250 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed on a 21.3-hectare cannabis farm in Ilawe-Ekiti. NDLEA operatives also recovered 70 bags of the same substance, weighing 1,140kg, during an operation that lasted between October 12 and 13. Arrested suspects include Matthew Emmanuel (26), James Moses (27), and Israel Samuel (20). The operation followed the destruction of another 17,400kg of skunk on 6.96 hectares of farmland at the Aponmu Forest Reserve, Akure, Ondo State, on October 12, 2025.

In Oyo State, four suspects: Aliyu Muhammed (50), Babarinde Segun (32), Ogunbiyi Sanjo (30), and Ajani Oluro (30), were arrested with 596kg of skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora. Similarly, Jacob Afolabi (30) and Salako Oluwatobi (25) were apprehended with 273kg of the same substance at Odo-Oyan, Igangan, on October 16, 2025.

NDLEA operatives also arrested Joseph Andrew with 88kg of skunk at Ona-Imeko, Ogun State, on October 15, 2025. Another suspect, Festus Udoh (42), was caught with 13,000 opioid pills along the Onitsha–Owerri Road, Imo State. In Enugu State, a total of 74.5kg of skunk was recovered from the store of a suspect, Joseph Chukwujamaa, at Umuogbo-Agu village on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

In Lagos, operatives recovered 11 bags of skunk weighing 117kg from the base of a suspect, Ramoni Olukowi, in the Mushin area on October 18. On October 14, 2025, 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted at Apapa Port in a container previously placed on NDLEA’s watch list. The seizure followed a joint examination of the shipment by NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.

Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands and Formations nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities during the week.

Beneficiaries included students and staff of Commercial Grammar School, Igogo-Ekiti; Junior Secondary Smart School, Kasarawa, Katsina; Government Technical College, Ahoada, Rivers; Government Girls’ Junior Secondary School, Yau Danzabuwa, Babura, Jigawa; Attarbiyya Community College, Hotoro, Kano; Fuga Mixed Secondary School, Fuga, Edo; St. Cyprian Special Science School, Nsukka, Enugu; and St. Peter’s College, Olomore, Abeokuta, Ogun State, among others.