The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted cocaine concealed in lipsticks and a property title document bound for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively.
Operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation attached to a logistics firm in Lagos discovered the consignments on Thursday, 3rd July 2025.
In a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said a total of 420 grams of cocaine were hidden in 84 pieces of factory-fitted female lipsticks heading to the UK, while 280 grams of the drug were found inside a Certificate of Occupancy being sent to Saudi Arabia.
“A total of 420 grams of cocaine factory-fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK were seized, while 280 grams of the same Class A drug were uncovered in a property title document (Certificate of Occupancy, C of O) being sent to Saudi Arabia,” the statement partly read.
In a separate operation, he said a drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, alias ‘Warri Kinsman’, was arrested in Ikeja on Saturday, 28th June, following a three-day raid.
Babafemi added that the operation led to the seizure of 681 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 414.2 kilograms from 24 jumbo bags, and the arrest of three accomplices.
He said in another operation, a family was arrested for drugs.
According to him, the father, Ajah Johnson, his wife Rosemary, their daughters Stella and Ngozi, and a family friend, Okoro Elijah, were arrested in Lagos.
“A businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna, and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, along with their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, as well as their family friend, Okoro Elijah, have been taken into custody after an investigation revealed they run a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos.
“The couple was first arrested on Friday, 13th June, by operatives of the Department of State Security in the Ojo area of the state and transferred to the NDLEA along with 277.5 kg of skunk.
“While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was ongoing in their house.
“This led to a raid on their home and a packing store, where 231 kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday, 1st July.
“Three persons arrested during the raid include their two daughters, Ngozi Uchenna and Blessing Uchenna, as well as their family friend, Okoro Elijah, who was running the family business in the absence of the couple,” he said.
Babafemi also said that at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, a man identified as Aburemi Hysent was caught on 2nd July with 7,660 tramadol pills concealed in food items he was conveying to Italy.
He said the suspect confessed to being promised €800 for the delivery.
NDLEA operatives at the airport on Wednesday, 2nd July, intercepted the frequent flyer, who specialises in conveying goods for customers between Nigeria and Italy.
“He was found to have hidden 7,660 pills of tramadol 225 mg and 200 mg inside food items packed among other goods he was conveying to Italy.
“He claimed he was to be paid the sum of €800 upon successful delivery of the drug consignment,” Babafemi said.
On 4th July, he said operatives at the airport also intercepted 52 counterfeit travellers’ cheques concealed in children’s books.
The cheques, worth 17.7 million Australian dollars and headed to Malaysia via Istanbul, were traced to freight agent Bolarinwa Saheed, who has been handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
Babafemi said, “In another interdiction operation at the Lagos airport, a total of 52 pieces of travellers’ cheques concealed in children’s books, worth 17,700,000 Australian dollars, going to Malaysia through Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight, were on Friday, 4th July, intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the airport while a freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed, has been arrested.
“The suspect will be transferred to the EFCC for further investigation.”
At the Seme border in Lagos on 5th July, he said NDLEA recovered 359 kg of skunk stored in the Baba-Pupa area.
The same day, Babafemi said 10,000 tramadol pills and 1.050 kg of Colorado were intercepted along the Okene-Lokoja highway, with follow-up arrests made at Jabi Park, Abuja.
In Osun State, he said several arrests were made between 1st and 3rd July in Osogbo and Ile-Ife. Over 62,000 pills and ampoules of opioids were seized.
“A cannabis farm covering 9.67 hectares was also destroyed at Ikaka forest, Oke-Ila, with seven suspects arrested and over 24,000 kg of skunk destroyed,” he added.
In Borno, he said 167 kg of skunk was recovered at Gamboru-Ngala.
“Along the Zaria-Kano road, 452 kg was seized, with two suspects arrested.
“In Kaduna, 11,000 pills of tramadol were found on a 30-year-old man, while Sokoto officers arrested a 62-year-old suspect with 4,800 pills of the same drug.
“Kebbi Command raided Bakin Kasuwa, Yauri, where 312 kg of skunk and 10,000 diazepam tablets were recovered.
“In Taraba, two suspects were found with nearly 50,000 capsules of tramadol,” the statement added.
In Edo, Babafemi said a wanted suspect, Alaba Monday, was arrested in Ewere forest with 115 kg of skunk.
“Three others were arrested on a 2-hectare cannabis farm. In Cross River, a 78-year-old man and others were arrested in Obubra LGA with various quantities of skunk and tramadol,” he concluded.
