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NDLEA Operatives Foil Multiple Drug Smuggling Schemes, Arrest 14 Suspects

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Recent operations carried out by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have resulted in the arrest of 14 suspects involved in various drug smuggling schemes across the country. This includes a 44-year-old businessman, Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian, who was caught ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine at the Port Harcourt International Airport. Furthermore, operatives intercepted a shipment of 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value, hidden behind ceramic sanitary wares at the Port Harcourt Ports. The agency also seized large quantities of cannabis and ecstasy pills in various states.

Key Takeaways:

  • Between June 7 and 14, 2025, NDLEA operatives arrested 14 suspects involved in drug smuggling schemes.
  • Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian, a 44-year-old businessman, was caught ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine at the Port Harcourt International Airport, weighing a total of 1.172kg.
  • A shipment of 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value was hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares at the Port Harcourt Ports.
  • Three suspects were arrested in Obereakai, Odukpani LGA, Cross River State, recovering 2,687kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
  • In Bauchi State, two suspects, Iriemi Imonikhe and Sa'idu Ladan, were arrested along the Bauchi-Jos road after discovering 195 blocks of skunk weighing 287kg in their Toyota Camry.
  • 14 jumbo sacks of skunk weighing 560kg were recovered from a wooden boat at Oniru Beach, Lagos, on June 12, 2025.
  • Four ecstasy pills and 3.2kg of skunk were seized from two businessmen, Ishaku Abdullahi and Buba Usman, at Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri.
  • The NDLEA's War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy activities continued nationwide, with sensitization lectures delivered to students and staff at various institutions.
  • NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers involved for their efforts in tackling the drug crisis across the country.

Statistics:

  • 53 wraps of cocaine were ingested by Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian at the Port Harcourt International Airport, weighing a total of 1.172kg.
  • 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares at the Port Harcourt Ports, worth over N1.1 billion in street value.
  • 2,687kg of skunk was recovered from a warehouse in Obereakai, Odukpani LGA, Cross River State.
  • 287kg of skunk was discovered in a Toyota Camry driven by Iriemi Imonikhe and Sa'idu Ladan in Bauchi State.
  • 560kg of skunk was recovered from a wooden boat at Oniru Beach, Lagos, on June 12, 2025.
  • 3.2kg of skunk was seized from Ishaku Abdullahi and Buba Usman at Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri.

Sources:

  • National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) statement by Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, June 7, 2025.
  • Nigerians to face death penalty if convicted of drug trafficking, NDLEA Chairman warns (Source: The Guardian, June 12, 2025)
  • Drug seizures rise as NDLEA intensifies anti-drug campaign (Source: Vanguard News, June 14, 2025)

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