Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted two unusual drug trafficking schemes, involving one woman with a fake pregnancy and another man who ingested illicit drugs in a daring attempt to smuggle them into Europe.
A Kano based businesswoman, 35-year-old Rabi Muhammad was intercepted by NDLEA officers at the departure tarmac of Seme land border with a protruding tummy on Monday 16th February 2026 while attempting to cross to Cotonou in Benin Republic.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Public Enlightenment on Sunday, “a full body search however revealed the absurd: her pregnancy was fake and her baby bump was designed with a pink coloured calabash used to conceal 3,200 capsules of tramadol, which she tied around her stomach and was taking to Cotonou to sell.”
”Her bizarre attempt to disguise illegal drugs in such a manner has raised eyebrows in the agency’s ongoing fight against drug trafficking,” the agency said.
“That same day in Kano, a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Michael Gohouri (also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael), was detained at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) during routine screening for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940.
“Gohouri, en route to Milan via Addis Ababa, had swallowed 82 wraps of cocaine, which weighed 1.49 kilograms.”
After being placed under observation, he excreted the illicit substances, which he had ingested with plans to deliver them to a contact in Milan for a payment of 5,000 Euros.” the statement said.
Babafemi further revealed “Gohouri, who arrived in Lagos from Milan in January 2026, had been traveling between various Nigerian cities before making his way to Kano for the final leg of his smuggling operation.
“NDLEA officials are investigating his background and his connections to international drug cartels. Gohouri claims dual heritage, with his father from Ivory Coast and his mother from Enugu State, Nigeria. He has lived in Italy since 2013 under an asylum permit, which is valid until May 2026.”
Additionally, NDLEA operatives have arrested a prominent real estate CEO suspected of leading a major drug cartel, along with other individuals, including a 68-year-old grandmother, during raids across several Nigerian states, including Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Delta, and Kogi.
”The ongoing raids are part of the NDLEA’s nationwide crackdown on drug syndicates attempting to smuggle illegal substances out of Nigeria, with the agency continuing to deploy advanced intelligence and surveillance techniques.” Babafemi said.
