NDLEA drug bust MMIA disrupts trafficking to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as agents seize tramadol, cocaine in vehicle mirrors and lipstick tubes. Multiple arrests made
NDLEA drug bust MMIA has exposed a sophisticated smuggling operation involving cocaine and high-dose tramadol hidden in vehicle parts and cosmetic products.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted multiple consignments at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, preventing the drugs from reaching Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
On July 19, NDLEA agents uncovered 71 vehicle side mirrors filled with narcotics during a routine check at the airport’s export shed.
The items, bound for Libreville via Air Côte d’Ivoire, contained 57,420 tramadol 225mg pills and 1.60kg of cocaine.
The cargo was traced to a suspect, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, who was arrested immediately. Further investigations led to Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, and a raid at his residence uncovered another 1kg of cocaine, bringing the total haul to 2.60kg.
In a related case, Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka, a cosmetics dealer, was arrested on August 1 at the Trade Fair Complex. She was linked to drug-laced lipstick tubes seized on July 10.
Hidden inside were 100g of cocaine and 300g of phenacetine, a known cutting agent.
Nneka admitted she sourced the lipsticks, while blaming her husband, Remigus Nwafor, who remains on the run, for hiding the drugs.
The coordinated efforts reflect NDLEA’s unwavering crackdown on drug syndicates exploiting unconventional smuggling channels.
