Gabon-bound cocaine hidden in 71 car mirrors seized at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted shipments of cocaine and tramadol concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors bound for Libreville, Gabon, through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Three suspects linked to the cargo have been arrested in follow-up operations.

In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the first consignment—containing 57,420 tramadol 225mg pills and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.60kg—was seized on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in a shipment destined for Gabon via Air Côte D’Ivoire.

“A popular cargo agent, Ihekweme Benedict, handling the shipment was immediately arrested. Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, on Sunday, July 20.

“Eleven parcels of cocaine weighing 1kg were later recovered from four more side mirrors prepared for export, found in Uzochukwu’s home on Monday, July 21. This brought the total cocaine recovered to 68 parcels weighing 2.60kg,” the statement said.

In a related operation, NDLEA officers arrested businesswoman Mrs. Nwafor Nneka at her shop in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, on Friday, August 1, following the interception of 100g of cocaine and 300g of phenacetine concealed in lipsticks bound for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on July 10.

“Two cargo agents linked to the shipment were earlier arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka, who (allegedly) runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband, Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run. In her statement, Mrs. Nwafor admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband handled the actual concealment,” the statement said.

“In Abuja, the nations Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducting intelligence-led stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the FCT on Wednesday 30th July arrested three dispatch riders: Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28, for distributing illicit substances around the city. A total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis were recovered from them. Two other suspects: Aliyu Abubakar, 25; and  Adekunle Agbabiaka, 30, were arrested along Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, on Saturday 2nd August.

“In Lagos, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence on Saturday 2nd August arrested Joseph Michael with 3.3 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis in Mushin while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of skuchies on Friday 1st August.

“No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol capsules were seized from a suspect, Hussein Yusuf, 37, at an NDLEA checkpoint along Vandeikya-Ogoja road in Benue state on Friday 1st August, while operatives in Edo state same day raided a warehouse in Ekpoma where a suspect William Alabi, 44, was arrested and 233.5kg skunk recovered.

“In Borno state, NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport (MBIAM) Maiduguri on Friday 1st August intercepted a consignment of 160 pills of tramadol concealed in footwears by a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu who was promptly arrested.

“While NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Friday 1st August raided the Oja Odan area and arrested a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat Seyi, with 7, 218 pills of opioids mainly tramadol, their counterparts in Oyo state nabbed Oladeji Saka, 54, with 77.5 kilograms of skunk at Asanike, Ibadan, just as another suspect Benson Izah, 40, was arrested in Abraka, Delta state with 12.5kg skunk, 1kg tramadol and 14.4litres of codeine.

“In Bayelsa state, NDLEA officers on Friday 1st August arrested 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, along Tantua road, Amassoma where a total of 41,705 tramadol capsules, among other assorted opioids were recovered from their shop and residence, while a suspect Bashir Gambo, 30, was nabbed at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA, Kano state, with 61kg skunk.

“Two suspects: Kabiru Ayinde, 40; and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were on Monday 28th July arrested at Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun state, where 90kg skunk,  36.3grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF and ₦228,200.00 cash exhibit were recovered from them,” the statement added.