NDLEA Arrests South African Woman With 36.65kg of Cocaine in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a 34-year-old South African woman, Qhina Beauty, after recovering 36.65 kilogrammes of cocaine from her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Beauty was arrested on October 7 in the airport’s departure hall while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa via Doha.

A search of her two travelling bags reportedly uncovered 30 blocks of cocaine concealed with dried pepper, wrapped in cellophane tape and arranged in seven separate parcels.

Babafemi said the suspect told investigators that she arrived in Nigeria on September 30 specifically to collect the drugs. She allegedly said another South African woman recruited her and promised to pay her R20,000 after the consignment was successfully delivered.

Beauty also reportedly identified two other people linked to the alleged drug trafficking network, including an individual based in the United States and a Lagos-based car dealer.

Further investigations led to the arrest of 46-year-old car dealer Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe on October 14.

The NDLEA said operatives intercepted him at Apple Junction along Ago Palace Way in Lagos after conducting surveillance at his residence in Shasha.

According to Babafemi, Umunnakwe admitted receiving Beauty at the airport and arranging accommodation for her at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin. He reportedly said he later moved her to Cynarisso Hotel near the airport ahead of her departure.

The agency said the arrests formed part of wider investigations into suspected drug trafficking activities. The allegations against the suspects remain subject to the legal process.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 62-year-old Anetor Gloria Ubong at the Lagos airport on October 21 after she arrived on a United Airlines flight from Houston, United States.

Ubong, a realtor based in Richmond, Texas, holds Nigerian and American passports.

Babafemi said a search of her two checked-in boxes uncovered 18 parcels of a high-grade cannabis strain known as loud, weighing 9.45kg. The substance was reportedly concealed in a box with gift-wrapping paper.

During questioning, Ubong allegedly told investigators that her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law had delivered the box to her home in the United States. She claimed she was expected to bring it to Nigeria for her daughter’s fiancé, identified as Jibola.

The NDLEA did not provide further details about the status of the other individuals mentioned in the allegations.

Beyond the airport arrests, the agency reported recovering illicit drugs and pharmaceutical opioids in operations across Lagos, Delta, Kano, Taraba, Niger, Bauchi, Ondo, Edo and Oyo states.

In Lagos, operatives arrested 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat in the Eti-Osa area on October 23. The agency said they recovered 5,820 pills of diazepam, 780 tramadol tablets, 3.7kg of skunk cannabis and 230.25 litres of a drink known as skuchies.

In Delta State, a 51-year-old suspect, Peter Ugochukwu, was arrested in Warri with a large consignment of pharmaceutical drugs. The reported seizures included 29,350 tramadol capsules, 6,620 tablets of tramadol 200mg, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 Rohypnol tablets and 3,500 diazepam tablets.

Operatives also recovered 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection, alongside other substances, including tramadol 225mg, Molly and Cocodamol.

Babafemi said the police transferred Ugochukwu and a white Hummer bus to the NDLEA. In another operation in Warri, officers arrested 46-year-old Helen Samson, a physically challenged woman, on October 19 at Enhere Junction with 6kg of skunk.

In Oyo State, the agency arrested 41-year-old Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi in Ibadan’s Adamasingba area on October 19. The NDLEA said he had previously escaped arrest after officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis from his residence on September 16.

Cannabis and Opioid Seizures in Northern Nigeria

In Kano State, a raid in the Gerawa area on October 22 led to the arrest of 30-year-old Murtala Lawan. Officers reportedly seized 159 blocks of cannabis weighing 97.2kg.

In Taraba State, operatives arrested 39-year-old Raiyanu Misa at the Lankaviri checkpoint in Yorro Local Government Area on October 23. They recovered 95 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 60.175kg.

On the same day, another suspect was handed over to the agency after being arrested at Dakka Village in Bali Local Government Area with 112 blocks of cannabis weighing 81.49kg.

In Niger State, 26-year-old Emmanuel Ekene was arrested along the Sabo-Kainji Road in Borgu Local Government Area on October 19. The NDLEA said he was found with 64,000 opioid pills, including tramadol and diazepam.

In Bauchi State, officers arrested 45-year-old Jamilu Mustapha, also known as Last Card, in Nasaru town, Ningi Local Government Area, on October 21. The operation led to the seizure of 379kg of cannabis packed in seven large sacks.

The agency also reported significant cannabis seizures and farm destruction in the South-West.

In Ondo State, operatives recovered 583kg of abandoned cannabis packed in 56 bags during a raid on a farm at Board-Ala in Akure South Local Government Area on October 20.

In Edo State, the agency destroyed two cannabis farms in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, in Owan West Local Government Area on October 18.

According to Babafemi, the farms had an estimated potential yield of 2,023.14kg. Officers burnt 450kg of processed cannabis at the site and retained another 97kg as exhibits.

The agency also arrested 42-year-old Mary Edokhai in Ewe community, Owan West, with 35kg of cannabis.

The NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for their vigilance, professionalism and intelligence-led approach.

He urged personnel across the country to sustain efforts to combat drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The reported seizures and arrests reflect the agency’s continued operations against the movement of cocaine, cannabis and pharmaceutical opioids through Nigerian airports and other locations.