Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of cocaine concealed in the heads of imported dry stock fish and dismantled multiple drug trafficking networks across the country in a series of coordinated operations.
The agency also recovered consignments of fentanyl, methamphetamine and morphine sulphate concealed in automobile parts bound for the United Kingdom, while arrests were made in several states, including an 80-year-old suspect in Ekiti
.According to the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the cocaine seizure followed actionable intelligence on a transnational syndicate involved in trafficking illicit drugs to India.
“Operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a well-coordinated operation that led to the interception of a major cocaine consignment concealed in dry stock fish and the arrest of a key member of the syndicate,” Babafemi said.
The operation, conducted on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Ojo, Lagos, led to the arrest of 36-year-old Akputa Dickson Ejike. A search of three jumbo bags in his possession revealed 237 wraps of cocaine buried in the heads of “okporoko,” with a total weight of 5.80 kilograms. The consignment was destined for Delhi, India.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two illicit consignments at a Lagos courier firm on March 25.
“In one of the shipments originating from Cotonou, 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine were concealed in automobile filters, while another parcel contained ampoules of morphine sulphate and fentanyl heading to the United Kingdom,” Babafemi stated.
Further raids by a Special Operations Unit in Lagos led to the arrest of a suspected drug syndicate leader, Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, also known as “Iya Ghana,” at her residence in Yaba. She was apprehended alongside a sales associate, with 135 blocks of cannabis weighing 76.30 kilograms recovered.
“The suspect, though outwardly engaged in legitimate trade, was found to be running a cross-border drug distribution network between Nigeria and Ghana,” Babafemi said.
On the same day, another suspect, Anayo Lucky Ohabiro, was arrested in Surulere, Lagos, with 78 blocks of cannabis weighing 41 kilograms seized.In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives arrested 80-year-old Oke Samuel during a raid in Efon-Alaaye, recovering 2.2 kilograms of skunk and small quantities of methamphetamine.
“The arrest underscores the disturbing spread of drug trafficking activities across age groups and communities,” Babafemi noted.
In neighbouring Ondo State, operatives raided an uncompleted building in Ogbese, Akure North, recovering 894.72 kilograms of psychoactive substances from a suspect.Other operations across the country recorded significant seizures.
In Benue State, 116.7 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a suspect in Guma LGA, while in Edo State, operatives uncovered a warehouse in Ekpoma, leading to the seizure of 576.5 kilograms of skunk and 33 bottles of codeine syrup.
In Taraba State, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck conveying 135 kilograms of cannabis concealed in animal feed, with two suspects arrested.
Beyond enforcement, the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign nationwide, delivering sensitisation lectures in schools across Cross River, Adamawa, Oyo, Kano and Lagos states.
Babafemi said the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the operations.
“The Chairman has praised the commitment of our officers across commands for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts,” he said
