The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major breakthrough in its nationwide anti-narcotics operations with the arrest of a Brazilian national carrying heroin worth over ₦3 billion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The suspect, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, a 30-year-old private security officer from Brazil, was apprehended shortly after arriving in Nigeria aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431. NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a detailed search of her checked-in luggage.
During the search, officers discovered 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee concealed in two suitcases. Further examination revealed that the coffee packs contained 30.09 kilogrammes of white heroin, later confirmed through testing. NDLEA described the seizure as the largest single heroin interception ever recorded at the Abuja airport, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦3 billion. In her preliminary statement, the suspect claimed she travelled to Nigeria on holiday.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted two outbound passengers, Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko, en route to Istanbul, Turkey, aboard a Turkish Airlines flight. A search of their luggage uncovered 3,990 pills of tapentadol and tramaking concealed inside food items.
In another operation, officers of the NDLEA Marine Command intercepted a wooden boat at Jakande Beach, Lekki, Lagos, carrying 1,848 kilogrammes of Ghana Loud cannabis packaged in 44 jumbo bags. The drugs were reportedly smuggled from Ghana before operatives stormed the area in the early hours and seized both the boat and the consignment.
The agency also disrupted the movement of explosives when two suspects, Aminu Ali Baba (20) and Abdulrasheed Abubakar (28), were arrested in connection with 140 packets of explosives concealed in a commercial bus along the Kaduna–Zaria highway. The explosives were allegedly destined for Kano and Kaduna states.
In Kaduna State, an intelligence-led raid at Kwangila in Zaria Local Government Area led to the arrest of Fatima Ibrahim (42) and Adejimoh Ismaila (44), with 120 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis recovered.
In Borno State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 179,590 pills of tramadol and diazepam concealed in sacks of charcoal and animal feed during transit from Potiskum, Yobe State, to Maiduguri. A follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of the alleged owner, Rabiu Imam (32).
In Kwara and Niger states, a female suspect, Mrs. Eze Chioma, was arrested in Mokwa, Niger State, after 78,500 tramadol pills were intercepted in Bode Saadu, Kwara State. Investigations revealed her husband is currently remanded in prison for a similar offence.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA arrested a 72-year-old suspect, Afolalu Joseph, alongside Abu Bunmi, recovering 62 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis from their residences. In Edo State, a joint operation with soldiers of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade led to the arrest of a village head, Chief James Abamu, and another suspect, with 681 kilogrammes of skunk and 181 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds recovered.
Additional arrests and seizures were recorded across Kano, Oyo, Benue, FCT, Lagos, Delta and Ondo states, involving tramadol, pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, skuchies mixtures and over 1,500 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, holding sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres and communities across several states.
Commending the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the professionalism of officers nationwide and urged them to sustain momentum in both supply and demand reduction efforts.
Michael Olugbode
About the Author
