By Charles Pemu 
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 43-year-old makeup artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos for attempting to smuggle 2.2 kilograms of cocaine to India under the pretense of undergoing fibroid surgery.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that the suspect was apprehended on Monday, June 16, following intelligence-led surveillance. Adekoya was intercepted at the boarding gate of a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha, after successfully checking in her luggage.
Upon inspection, operatives discovered two large parcels of cocaine factory-fitted into the side walls of her suitcase. During interrogation, Adekoya admitted she was promised a financial incentive to traffic the drugs and falsely claimed the trip was for medical treatment.
Further investigation traced the shipment to a notorious drug kingpin, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, identified as the owner of Rockford Hotel in Sango, Ogun State. He is currently at large.
In other coordinated operations:
- In Bauchi, two suspects were intercepted with over 1 million opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.
- In Kaduna, a man was caught transporting 14.2kg of skunk and 198kg of rubber solution hidden in charcoal sacks.
- In Abuja, raids led to the arrest of six suspects with 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine.
- In Kano, NDLEA arrested suspects with 56.2kg of skunk, 23,720 tramadol capsules, and 1,400 pentazocine ampoules.
- In Kwara, a 22-year-old polytechnic student and drug supplier was caught with 1kg of skunk.
- In Edo State, over 4,226kg of skunk was destroyed in forest raids, with arrests made in multiple communities.
Additionally, courier interceptions led to seizures of 1.3kg of Loud cannabis sewn into female clothing headed for Bahrain, and 850g of cocaine concealed in coat hangers bound for Australia.
The NDLEA also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitisation programmes in schools across Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kano, and Enugu States, and an advocacy visit to the Ooni of Ife in Osun State.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), lauded the agency’s operatives for their resilience.
“These arrests and seizures show our balanced strategy of disrupting supply while reducing demand. Our officers remain committed and professional,” Marwa stated.
Investigations are ongoing as the NDLEA continues to dismantle drug trafficking networks across the country.