Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a major drug trafficking network that concealed cocaine inside tins of palm kernel oil meant for export to the United Kingdom, leading to the arrest of several suspects, including an alleged kingpin in Lagos.
The operation, which lasted several weeks, highlights the growing sophistication of drug trafficking methods in Nigeria and the continued efforts by authorities to dismantle such networks.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday. He explained that the breakthrough followed three weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement actions by operatives.
According to him, the operation began on March 11, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, where NDLEA officers intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract at the export shed.
The discovery raised suspicion, prompting further investigation into the shipment and those connected to it. Two suspects identified as Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin were arrested in connection with the seized drugs.
NDLEA officials said the concealment method used in the operation was carefully planned. The traffickers allegedly drained the palm kernel oil from the tins and replaced it with cocaine before sealing them to appear like genuine export products.
Following the initial arrests, operatives launched a follow-up sting operation aimed at identifying the wider network behind the shipment. This led to the arrest of the sender, Ezemuwo Joel, on April 2, 2026. Authorities said he operated under a false identity in a bid to avoid detection.
Further investigation led officers to the alleged leader of the syndicate, King Arinze, a 52-year-old man who was arrested at a hideout in Isolo, Lagos.
NDLEA operatives subsequently raided a warehouse linked to Arinze at 11 Ola Ifa Street, Bucknor, Isolo. During the raid, officers recovered 886 empty tins prepared for drug concealment, as well as sealing machines, tin openers, paint sprays, 52 grams of cannabis, and a pack of hand gloves.
Authorities said the items recovered indicated a well-organised operation designed to process and conceal drugs for export. Investigators added that Arinze confessed to overseeing the process of removing the oil from the tins and using them to hide cocaine.
The arrest of the suspected kingpin is seen as a major success for the NDLEA, as it shows the agency’s growing ability to track and dismantle organised drug networks operating within and outside Nigeria.
Drug trafficking remains a major challenge in Nigeria, especially given the country’s role as a transit point for illicit drugs heading to Europe and other parts of the world. Traffickers often use creative methods to evade detection, including hiding drugs in food items, electronics, and industrial products.
In addition to the Lagos operation, the NDLEA carried out several other arrests and seizures across the country, showing the widespread nature of drug-related activities.
In Borno State, a 28-year-old woman, Aisha Adamu, was arrested along the Gamboru Ngala road with 4.3 kilograms of “Colorado,” a strong synthetic strain of cannabis. Authorities suspect that she may have been supplying drugs to armed groups operating in the North-East region and across the border into Chad.
In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ, Afolabi Hodonu, and his wife, Success Hodonu, at the Gbaji checkpoint in Badagry on April 2.
Officers recovered 11 kilograms of skunk hidden in secret compartments in their vehicle. Their arrest followed the earlier apprehension of another suspect, Sunday Samuel, who was caught with 24.5 kilograms of the same substance along the Badagry route.
In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer carrying 48,000 pills of tramadol along the Namtari road in Yola South. The operation led to the arrest of the driver, Abdulaziz Ismail Korede, and a suspected recipient, Idris Adamu.
Tramadol abuse has become a serious public health issue in Nigeria, particularly among young people, due to its addictive nature and easy availability through illegal channels.
Other seizures were recorded in different parts of the country. In Osun State, NDLEA operatives recovered 15 kilograms of skunk from a 60-year-old suspect in Osogbo. In Ondo State, 351 kilograms of skunk were seized from a forest in Itaogbolu, while in Benue State, 28,600 capsules of tramadol were recovered from a 66-year-old suspect.
In Edo State, operatives arrested Roland Owie after raiding a warehouse in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where 1,378 kilograms of skunk were found.
Similarly, in Oyo State, a 40-year-old woman, Ayantola Omodunmomi, was arrested in Ibadan following intelligence reports that she allegedly used her 11-year-old daughter to distribute drugs. Officers recovered 45.6 kilograms of skunk from her residence.
The NDLEA said these operations are part of its broader strategy to reduce drug supply and demand across the country. The agency has continued to intensify its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which focuses on educating the public, especially young people, about the dangers of drug use.
As part of the campaign, sensitisation programmes have been held in schools across several states, including Oyo, Lagos, Kano, Anambra, and Zamfara.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations. He described the arrests and seizures as clear evidence of the agency’s improved intelligence gathering and commitment to fighting drug trafficking.
He said the agency would continue to go after drug networks, regardless of the methods they use or the identities they hide behind.
“We will not relent in our efforts to rid the country of illicit drugs,” he said. “No matter how traffickers try to conceal their activities, we will continue to track and expose them.”
The recent operations underline the scale of the drug problem in Nigeria, as well as the determination of law enforcement agencies to tackle it. However, experts say sustained efforts, stronger collaboration, and public awareness are needed to fully address the challenge.