Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Abuba, for attempting to traffic cocaine to Istanbul, Turkey.
Abuba, a native of Zaire Province in Angola, was intercepted on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, while trying to board an Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul via Cairo.
A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said a body scan confirmed that the suspect had ingested illicit drugs, leading to his placement under observation.
He added that after several hours, he excreted 120 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.829 kilograms, in seven rounds.
“In his statement, the suspect claimed he was into the business of township delivery services in Angola before delving into the illicit drug trade,” the statement added.
In a related operation, Babafemi said the NDLEA officers thwarted an attempt by Okeke Igwe, an auto spare parts dealer, to smuggle 1.10kg of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.
He said Igwe was arrested on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
He said, “A similar attempt by an auto spare parts dealer, Okeke Ebuka Igwe, to send two parcels of 1.10kg cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, was thwarted by the NDLEA operatives who arrested him on Monday, February 24, following credible intelligence.
“During an interview with the suspect, he claimed that he is a businessman selling auto parts in ASPANDA, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos.”
Similarly, Babafemi said Ezechi Cyprian was arrested on Sunday, February 23, 2025, while transporting 5.40kg of cocaine to Owerri, Imo State, in a Toyota Sienna.
He stated that the suspect was arrested after weeks of surveillance by the NDLEA operatives.
At Tincan Seaport, Lagos, on Friday, February 28, 2025, Babafemi said a joint examination by the NDLEA, customs, and other security agencies led to the discovery of 128 parcels of Canadian Loud (a potent cannabis strain) hidden in two mattresses inside a Toyota Venza imported from Canada.
He said,” At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, the NDLEA operatives on Friday, February 28, discovered a total of 128 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in two mattresses in the trunk of a Toyota Venza car imported from Canada.
“The discovery of the 63.75kg consignment was made during a joint examination of a targeted container marked TCNU 1945861 from Montreal, Canada, by the NDLEA, customs and other security agencies. The consignee of the shipment, 44-year-old Bamidele Joseph has been arrested and taken into custody.”
In Delta State, Babafemi also said the NDLEA operatives, supported by the military, raided a 20-hectare cannabis farm in Innam-Abbi/Orogun, Ndokwa West LGA, destroying over 50,000kg of illicit crops and arrested five suspects.
“Five suspects arrested during the raid include: Augustine Subaru, 45; Ukoba Malachukwu, 53; Odalonu Emmanuel, 40; Esuabom Macaulay, 35; and Itoje Safe, 54.
“In another operation in Delta, the NDLEA operatives on Friday, February 28, intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck marked AWK 791 ZJ along the Abraka-Orogun Road. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 101 bags of skunk with a total weight of 1,111kg,” the statement added.
In Edo State, Babafemi said the NDLEA and military operatives stormed the Okpuje community, Owan West LGA, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, seizing 1,409.5kg of skunk and destroying over 100 jumbo bags of the substance stored in warehouses.
He said the suspects arrested include Oikelomen Osere Monday (38) and Glory Iroyo (42).
“While a suspect, Michael Omoloki, 46, was arrested with 58.5 kilograms of skunk at the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Oyo State, operatives in Kwara State on Monday, February 24, nabbed a Beninoise, Lawali Mohammed, with 2,980 tablets of tramadol and dozens of diazepam pills at Eiyenkorin Expressway, Ilorin.
“In Osun, the NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Ibadan-Gbongan Expressway on Thursday, February 27, intercepted a consignment of 1.05kg skunk concealed in detergent soap and biscuit carton, while Sunday Ogbu, 45, was arrested in connection with the seizure. A suspect, Ayuba Mustapha, 30, was arrested at Tsafe, Zamfara State, with 24,700 pills of tramadol on Sunday, February 23.
“In Borno State, Mustapha Shettima, 50, was arrested by the NDLEA operatives with 31kg skunk, 1,000 pills of tramadol and N720,000 monetary exhibit along Bama Road, Maiduguri on Wednesday, February 26, while Adamu Idris, 40, was nabbed along Zaria Road, Kano, the same day with 140 blocks of cannabis weighing 73.5kg,” the statement added.
