By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of cocaine concealed in a local mortar and the false bottom of a backpack destined for China and Italy through a logistics company in Lagos.
The seizures were made on Thursday, July 30, 2026, by operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI), who recovered 250 grams of cocaine factory-fitted into the base of a local mortar packed in a carton for shipment to China.
Another 500 grams of cocaine was also discovered concealed in the false bottom of a backpack packaged for export to Italy.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives in Rivers State arrested a 38-year-old suspected notorious drug dealer, Ugo Gift Okonkwo, at Eagle Island, Port Harcourt, following credible intelligence.
Okonkwo was arrested on Sunday, July 26, with various quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, swinol, tramadol and codeine-based syrup.
Similarly, NDLEA officers conducting a stop-and-search operation at DMGS Roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra State, on Monday, July 27, intercepted a truck marked XK 131 BDG loaded with 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 3,960 kilogrammes.
The driver of the truck, 40-year-old Chinedu Nwanze, was arrested in connection with the consignment.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives on Sunday, July 26, recovered 331.84kg of skunk concealed in a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number KUJ 26 DV along the Kwale-Ughelli Expressway.
Also, in Nasarawa State, a 64-year-old man, Joseph Nwaeke, was arrested on Tuesday, July 28, at Asso Angwan Muazu in the Karu area with 68kg of skunk and 29 grammes of methamphetamine.
In Zamfara State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Zaria-Gusau Highway on Monday, July 27, intercepted 27-year-old Sani Umar, who was allegedly conveying 7,400 pills of tramadol 225mg suspected to have been destined as supplies for criminal elements.
Meanwhile, the agency continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign during the week, taking drug prevention messages to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
Among the activities were enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Hausawa Special Primary School, Kano; Royal Crown School, Oluyole, Ibadan; Government Secondary School, Ibi, Taraba State; as well as drivers at Challenge Bus Terminal Park, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Commending officers and men of the DOGI and the Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Nasarawa and Zamfara Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to combating illicit drugs.
He said the ongoing efforts must continue to combine drug supply reduction with prevention, sensitisation and other measures aimed at addressing the country’s drug abuse challenge.
The statement was signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
