By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old South African woman with 36.65 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and a 62-year-old Nigerian-American grandmother with 9.45kg of imported cannabis, popularly known as loud.
The arrests were part of a series of intelligence-led operations across several states, during which NDLEA operatives recovered large quantities of illicit drugs, pharmaceutical opioids and cannabis, dismantled cannabis farms and apprehended multiple suspects.
The agency identified the South African suspect as Qhina Beauty, who was arrested on October 7, 2026, at the departure hall of the Lagos airport while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa through Doha.
A search of her two travelling bags reportedly led to the discovery of 30 blocks of cocaine weighing 36.65kg. The drugs were allegedly laced with dried pepper, wrapped in cello tape and concealed in seven separate parcels.
During interrogation, Qhina reportedly told investigators that she arrived in Nigeria on September 30 specifically to collect the consignment. She allegedly disclosed that another South African woman recruited her with a promise of R20,000 upon successful delivery.
She also reportedly identified two other members of the alleged drug trafficking syndicate, one based in the United States and the other a Lagos-based car dealer.
Following further investigations, NDLEA operatives arrested the alleged car dealer, 46-year-old Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, on October 14 at Apple Junction, Ago Palace Way, Lagos, after surveillance at his residence in Shasha.
According to the agency, Umunnakwe admitted receiving Qhina at the airport, accommodating her at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin and subsequently moving her to Cynarisso Hotel near the airport ahead of her departure.
In a separate operation at the Lagos airport, operatives arrested 62-year-old Anetor Gloria Ubong, a Nigerian-American realtor based in Richmond, Texas, following her arrival on a United Airlines flight from Houston on October 21.
The agency said a search of her two checked-in boxes uncovered 18 parcels of loud weighing 9.45kg, concealed with gift-wrapping paper inside a box.
Ubong, who reportedly holds Nigerian and United States passports, claimed that the package was delivered to her residence in the US by her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law for onward delivery in Nigeria to her daughter’s fiancé, identified as Jibola.
The agency did not disclose further details about the alleged recipients or whether additional arrests had been made in connection with the seizure.
Beyond the airport interceptions, NDLEA operatives continued their crackdown on drug trafficking and distribution networks across the country.
In Lagos, a special operations unit arrested 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat in the Eti Osa area on October 23.
The operation reportedly yielded 5,820 diazepam pills, 780 tablets of tramadol, 3.7kg of skunk and 230.25 litres of skuchies, a locally produced alcoholic mixture associated with the misuse of psychoactive substances.
In Delta State, operatives arrested 51-year-old Peter Ugochukwu in Warri over a large consignment of pharmaceutical opioids and other controlled substances.
The agency listed the recovered items as 29,350 tramadol capsules, 6,620 tablets of tramadol 200mg, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 Rohypnol tablets, 3,500 diazepam tablets, 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection.
Quantities of tramadol 225mg, Molly and Cocodamol were also reportedly recovered.
Ugochukwu was transferred to the NDLEA alongside a white Hummer bus by the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State.
In another operation in Warri, a 46-year-old physically challenged woman, Helen Bakporo Samson, was arrested at Enhere Junction on October 19 with 6kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, operatives arrested Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi, 41, in the Adamasingba area of Ibadan, Oyo State, on October 19.
The agency said the suspect had earlier escaped arrest after officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis from his residence on September 16.
In Kano State, a raid in the Gerawa area on October 22 led to the arrest of 30-year-old Murtala Lawan and the seizure of 159 blocks of cannabis weighing 97.2kg.
In Taraba State, operatives at the Lankaviri checkpoint in Yorro Local Government Area arrested 39-year-old Raiyanu Misa on October 23 with 95 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 60.175kg.
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On the same day, the Nigeria Police Force handed over another suspect arrested at Dakka village in Bali Local Government Area, alongside 112 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 81.49kg.
In Niger State, 26-year-old Emmanuel Ekene was arrested on October 19 along the Sabo-Kainji Road in Borgu Local Government Area with 64,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
Another operation in Bauchi State led to the arrest of 45-year-old Jamilu Mustapha, also known as Last Card, at Nasaru Town in Ningi Local Government Area on October 21.
NDLEA operatives reportedly seized 379kg of cannabis packed in seven large sacks from the suspect.
In Ondo State, an intelligence-led operation on October 20 led operatives to a farm at Board-Ala in Akure South, where they recovered 56 abandoned bags of cannabis weighing 583kg.
In Edo State, officers destroyed two cannabis farms in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area, on October 18.
The farms were estimated to have a potential yield of 2,023.14kg of cannabis. Operatives also destroyed 450kg of processed cannabis at the site and retained another 97kg as evidence.
In a related operation at Ewe community in Owan West, officers arrested 42-year-old Mary Edokhai with 35kg of cannabis.
The latest operations underscore the agency’s continuing efforts to disrupt the cultivation, transportation and distribution of illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis and pharmaceutical opioids.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the MMIA, Kano, Lagos, Bauchi, Niger, Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Oyo and Delta commands for their vigilance, professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged officers across the country to sustain the momentum in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign during the week, organising enlightenment programmes in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.
Beneficiaries included Oje Grammar School in Ibadan, Oyo State; Government Day Secondary School, Kwamba, Niger State; Baptist Primary School, Olorunda, Ogun State; Government Secondary School, Yalea, Kano State; Community Secondary School, Igogoro, Enugu State; Urban Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Kelebe Community Grammar School, Osogbo, Osun State.
The sensitisation efforts are intended to raise awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and encourage community participation in preventing substance misuse.
