Nigeria’s NDLEA intercepts cocaine disguised as lipsticks and legal documents bound for the UK and Saudi Arabia, busts a “Warri Kinsman” trafficking network, arrests a family-run drug syndicate, and foils multiple smuggling plots across eight states.
Officers from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) uncovered 700 g of cocaine at a courier hub in Lagos on 3 July 2025.
420 g were factory-sealed inside 84 lipstick tubes destined for the United Kingdom.
280 g were pressed into a forged Certificate of Occupancy headed for Saudi Arabia.
After a three-day intelligence operation, agents nabbed Ajetsibo Emami (alias “Warri Kinsman”) in Ikeja on 28 June.
681 pouches of Canadian “Loud” cannabis (≈ 414 kg) were seized.
The haul was being moved to Lekki for nationwide distribution.
A Lagos couple—Ajah Johnson Uchenna and wife Rosemary—were first detained with 277 kg of skunk on 13 June.
Follow-up raids on 1 July netted another 231 kg and led to the arrest of:
Daughters Stella, Ngozi, and friend Okoro Elijah, who allegedly kept business running while the parents were in custody.
Airport Interdictions: Tramadol, Counterfeit Cheques
At MMIA Lagos (2 July), frequent flyer Aburemi Hysent was caught with 7,660 Tramadol pills concealed in food items bound for Italy.
On 4 July, agents intercepted 52 counterfeit travellers’ cheques (AU $17.7 million) hidden in children’s books on a Malaysia-bound flight; freight agent Bolarinwa Saheed is in custody.
Nationwide Crackdown Highlights.
Seme Border, Badagry 359 kg skunk 718 compressed balls recovered (5 July)
Okene–Lokoja Highway 10,000 Tramadol pills & 1 kg Colorado Three Abuja suspects held
Osun State Raids 62,000+ opioid pills; 9.67 ha cannabis farm destroyed 10 suspects arrested
Borno & Kano 619 kg skunk total Two major highway interceptions
Taraba, Kebbi, Sokoto 64,700+ Tramadol/Diazepam tabs Six suspects, including a 62-year-old man
Edo Forest Busts 115 kg processed skunk; wanted cultivator nabbed 2 ha cannabis farm discovered
The agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign delivered anti-drug lectures last week at schools in Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, and Borno, reinforcing prevention alongside enforcement.
