NDLEA Intercepts Drugs Hidden In Frozen Snails, Electrical Bulbs
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothes bound for the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the interceptions took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos. He confirmed that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the seizures.
According to Babafemi, a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan, was arrested on October 7, 2025, after NDLEA officers discovered 15 parcels of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in 10 giant rechargeable electrical bulbs meant for export to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He said another suspect, a 48-year-old UK-based public health assistant, identified as Olawale Hakeemot, was arrested on October 12 at the departure hall of Terminal 2, MMIA, Ikeja. She was reportedly caught with 2,300 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden inside frozen snails while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manchester, United Kingdom.
“An attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam concealed in female clothes to the United States was also foiled by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, October 16,” Babafemi added.
In Adamawa State, operatives intercepted one Bello Buba at an NDLEA checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South Local Government Area, with 38,270 pills of tramadol hidden in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic. The suspect allegedly drove from the Benin Republic to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 53,250 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on 21.3 hectares of farmland in Ilawe-Ekiti and recovered 1,140 kilograms already packed in 70 bags. Three suspects—Matthew Emmanuel, 26; James Moses, 27; and Israel Samuel, 20—were arrested during the operation, which lasted between October 12 and 13.
Similarly, 17,400 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed on 6.96 hectares of farmland in the Aponmu forest reserve, Akure, Ondo State, on October 12.
In Oyo State, four suspects—Aliyu Muhammed, 50; Babarinde Segun, 32; Ogunbiyi Sanjo, 30; and Ajani Oluro, 30—were arrested with 596 kilograms of skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora, while two others, Jacob Afolabi, 30, and Salako Oluwatobi, 25, were caught with 273 kilograms of the same substance at Odo-Oyan, Igangan, on October 16.
In Ogun State, Joseph Andrew was arrested with 88 kilograms of cannabis at Ona-Imeko on October 15, while in Imo State, 42-year-old Festus Udoh was caught with 13,000 pills of opioids along the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
Also, NDLEA operatives in Enugu recovered 74.5 kilograms of cannabis from the store of one Joseph Chukwujamaa at Umuogbo-Agu village on October 18, while in Lagos, 11 bags of cannabis weighing 117 kilograms were recovered from the base of a suspect, Ramoni Olukowi, in Mushin the same day.
Babafemi further disclosed that 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in a container earlier placed on the agency’s watchlist. The shipment, which came from India, was seized during a joint examination at the Apapa Port on October 14 involving NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
