The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing war against illicit drug trafficking, intercepting a consignment of cocaine ingeniously concealed in the heads of imported dry stockfish at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The agency disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who said the operation also led to the arrest of a key figure in a transnational drug trafficking syndicate with links to international markets, particularly India.
According to the statement, the arrest followed weeks of intelligence gathering on the activities of the syndicate, which is believed to be involved in the movement of illicit substances across multiple countries. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the agency’s strategic command at the Lagos airport launched a coordinated sting operation on March 19.
Mr Babafemi said the suspect was intercepted with three jumbo-sized bags suspected to contain contraband items. A thorough search of the luggage led to the discovery of 237 wraps of cocaine, carefully hidden inside the heads of stockfish, popularly known as “Okporoko,” in what officials described as a deliberate attempt to evade detection.
The cocaine, which had a gross weight of 5.80 kilogrammes, was packaged for export and was destined for Delhi, India. The concealment method, according to the agency, reflects the evolving tactics employed by drug trafficking networks to beat security checks at international gateways.
Beyond the airport seizure, the NDLEA also recorded additional successes in separate operations across Lagos, further exposing the scale and complexity of drug trafficking activities within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.
On March 25, operatives of the agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two separate consignments at a courier company in Lagos, both of which were bound for the United Kingdom. One of the shipments, which originated from Cotonou in the Benin Republic, was found to contain 1.9 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed within automobile filters, another example of the increasingly sophisticated methods used by traffickers.
The second consignment contained controlled pharmaceutical substances, including 40 ampoules of Morphine Sulphate and nine ampoules of Fentanyl, both of which are highly regulated due to their potential for abuse and misuse.
In a further crackdown on domestic drug distribution networks, operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit carried out a raid on March 26 at a residence located at 13 Carter Street in Yaba, Lagos. The operation led to the arrest of a 46-year-old woman identified as the alleged head of a notorious drug syndicate, along with her salesgirl.
The suspect, widely known by the alias “Iya Ghana,” was found in possession of no fewer than 135 blocks of a cannabis strain popularly referred to as “Ghana Loud,” with a total weight of 76.30 kilogrammes. According to the agency, she allegedly operated a dual-front enterprise, posing as a trader in local fabrics while coordinating a cross-border drug distribution network between Nigeria and Ghana.
On the same day, operatives extended their operation to Doyin bus stop in Surulere, Lagos, where another suspect was arrested based on credible intelligence. During the arrest, 78 blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 41 kilogrammes were recovered, further underscoring the scale of the illicit trade.
Reacting to the series of operations, the Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Special Operations Unit, and Directorate of Operations and General Investigation for their professionalism, vigilance, and commitment to duty.
He noted that the successes recorded are a reflection of the agency’s sustained efforts to disrupt both local and international drug supply chains, while also reinforcing Nigeria’s role in global anti-narcotics enforcement.
Mr Marwa also praised operatives across various commands nationwide for maintaining a strategic balance between reducing the supply of illicit drugs and addressing the demand side through preventive and rehabilitative measures.
The latest interceptions and arrests highlight the growing sophistication of drug trafficking networks and the corresponding need for enhanced intelligence, inter-agency collaboration, and advanced detection technologies.
As the agency continues to intensify its operations, authorities say the focus remains on dismantling syndicates, prosecuting offenders, and safeguarding communities from the dangers associated with drug abuse and trafficking.
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