Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple attempts to traffic cocaine, opioids and cannabis through the Seme border in Lagos and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), arresting a woman who concealed drugs in a fake pregnancy and a real estate executive accused of heading a drug distribution network.
At the Seme land border on 16 February 2026, NDLEA officers apprehended a 35-year-old Kano-based businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, as she attempted to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic. Although she appeared heavily pregnant, a search revealed the pregnancy was fake. Officers recovered 3,200 capsules of tramadol hidden inside a specially designed prosthetic bump strapped to her stomach.
On the same day at MAKIA in Kano, operatives arrested a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Michael Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, during clearance for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan via Addis Ababa. A body scan indicated he had ingested illicit substances. While under observation, he excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes. He was reportedly promised €5,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs in Milan. Investigations showed he had travelled between Lagos, Enugu and Kano before ingesting the drugs in a Kano hotel room.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources, Kolapo Oladapo Raji, 57, at his residence in Ikate, Lekki, Lagos, on 12 February following sustained surveillance. The suspect had reportedly been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025. A search of his home led to the recovery of four large bags containing 89.2 kilogrammes of “Canadian Loud”, a potent strain of cannabis, and a 2024 Toyota Hilux vehicle. He allegedly admitted financing drug consignments before setting up an independent distribution network.
Across Lagos, Rivers, Kogi, Ondo, Bauchi, Delta and Edo states, further operations resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of skunk and tramadol. In addition, 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup were uncovered during a joint examination of a container at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers for the arrests and seizures, reiterating the agency’s resolve to intensify drug supply and demand reduction efforts nationwide. He also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools and communities.
Credit: Vanguard
