Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed within twenty sets of religious books bound for Saudi Arabia. The seizure, which took place on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, is part of a series of successful operations carried out by the agency to clamp down on drug trafficking.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, confirmed the seizure in a statement released on Sunday, April 19, 2025, in Abuja. According to Babafemi, the cocaine was cleverly hidden in the pages of the religious books, with the shipment containing twenty parcels. The total weight of the cocaine found amounted to 500 grams.
The operation took place at a logistics firm where NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) were conducting routine searches of export cargos bound for Saudi Arabia. The traffickers had likely hoped to use the religious books as a cover to smuggle the illegal drugs, but the keen-eyed operatives were able to uncover the hidden narcotics.
The drugs were concealed in a manner that made them difficult to detect, further demonstrating the lengths to which drug traffickers are willing to go to evade law enforcement. NDLEA officials are continuing their investigations to trace the origin of the shipment and identify the individuals responsible for the smuggling attempt.
On the same day, NDLEA operatives intercepted another significant shipment at a separate courier company. This time, the officers discovered five parcels of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in a carton. The shipment, originating from the United States, weighed 2.8 kilograms.
Loud is known for its stronger effects compared to regular cannabis, making it a particularly dangerous substance. The interception of this shipment adds to the growing efforts of the NDLEA to curb the flow of illicit drugs entering Nigeria through various international routes.
In addition to the significant drug seizures, the NDLEA also made a series of important arrests in different parts of the country. On Sunday, April 13, 2025, operatives arrested 22-year-old Muhammad Mohammed, a suspect who had been supplying illicit substances to bandits operating in northern Nigeria.
Mohammad was apprehended while traveling on the Bichi-Kano road. He was found in possession of 277 ampoules of pentazocine, a dangerous opioid, which he had strapped to his thigh and private parts using cellotape in an attempt to evade detection. Pentazocine is often used illicitly as a painkiller, and its abuse can lead to severe addiction and health problems.
Another suspect, 43-year-old Mohammed Abdulaziz, was arrested on the same day in the Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano, for possessing 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis. The blocks weighed a total of 30 kilograms. The NDLEA believes Abdulaziz was part of a network involved in the illegal distribution of drugs in the region.
Both arrests underscore the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the networks supplying drugs to criminal elements such as bandits and other organized crime groups in Nigeria.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives raided two large cannabis farms located in the Egbeta forest of Edo State. The raids, which took place in the early hours of April 15, resulted in the destruction of 3,717.8625 kilograms of cannabis grown on 1.487 hectares of land. Additionally, 136.5 kilograms of processed cannabis were seized during the operation.
The destruction of these cannabis farms is part of the NDLEA’s ongoing campaign to dismantle local drug cultivation operations. The agency has increasingly focused on identifying and eradicating illegal cannabis farms across Nigeria, recognizing the significant role they play in the country’s drug trade.
Cannabis remains one of the most commonly abused drugs in Nigeria, and its cultivation for commercial purposes has been a major challenge for law enforcement agencies. By targeting these farms, the NDLEA hopes to reduce the availability of illicit cannabis and curb its widespread use, particularly among young people.
At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives made a breakthrough in a case dating back to 2023. Kayode Basorun, a 40-year-old man who had been on the run for two years, was arrested in connection with the seizure of 107 kilograms of “Loud” cannabis imported from Canada. The shipment had been intercepted at the seaport in 2023, and Basorun’s arrest marks the conclusion of a lengthy investigation.
Basorun had evaded capture for two years, but the NDLEA’s dedication to tracking down drug traffickers eventually led to his apprehension. His arrest is a significant victory for the agency as it continues to combat the influx of illicit drugs into Nigeria.
In another operation at the seaport, NDLEA operatives arrested Dauda Yakubu, a suspect involved in the distribution of illicit drugs within the seaport community. Yakubu, who was arrested on Monday, April 14, 2025, is believed to have been working with other drug traffickers to smuggle drugs into the country through the busy Lagos port. The seizure of Yakubu and the drugs under his control highlights the NDLEA’s efforts to monitor and intercept illegal shipments arriving at Nigeria’s major ports.
These recent seizures and arrests are part of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s sustained efforts to combat the growing drug trade in Nigeria. With increasing cases of drug abuse and trafficking throughout the country, the NDLEA continues to strengthen its operations and increase collaboration with international law enforcement agencies.
The NDLEA’s efforts have received widespread praise from concerned citizens, law enforcement experts, and public health advocates, who have emphasized the need for continued vigilance in tackling drug-related issues. As Nigeria’s drug trafficking challenges persist, the role of the NDLEA remains crucial in safeguarding public health and ensuring that those responsible for the production and distribution of illegal substances face justice.
