Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a major drug trafficking operation involving cocaine concealed in imported dry stockfish, leading to the arrest of a suspected syndicate leader.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the breakthrough followed actionable intelligence on the group’s cross-border trafficking activities, particularly routes linked to India.
Babafemi disclosed that the agency’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command carried out a coordinated sting operation in the Ojo area of Lagos on Thursday, March 19, 2026. During the raid, officers apprehended 36-year-old Akputa Dickson Ejike, identified as a key figure in the syndicate.
A search of three large bags in his possession revealed 237 wraps of cocaine ingeniously concealed inside the heads of imported dry stockfish, popularly known as “Okporoko.” The recovered drugs weighed a total of 5.80 kilograms and were reportedly destined for Delhi, India.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted two suspicious consignments bound for the United Kingdom at a Lagos-based courier company on March 25. One shipment, originating from Cotonou in the Benin Republic, contained 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside automobile filters. The second parcel was found to contain 40 ampoules of morphine sulphate and nine ampoules of fentanyl.
Additionally, in another major crackdown on March 26, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit raided a residence at 13 Carter Street in Yaba, Lagos, leading to the arrest of 46-year-old Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, alleged to be the head of a notorious drug distribution network, and her associate, 31-year-old Sarah Zainab Agbabiaka.
During the raid, officers recovered 135 blocks of “Ghana Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 76.30 kilograms. Jolayemi, popularly known as “Iya Ghana,” is said to operate a drug distribution ring between Nigeria and Ghana under the guise of a local fabric business.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to intensifying efforts against drug trafficking networks and safeguarding communities from the dangers of illicit substances.
Credit: Vanguard
