Operatives of the NDLEA has arrested a 24-year-old Thai national, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, into Nigeria.
The illicit consignment, weighing 46.60 kilograms, was concealed in her luggage but was intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during an inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a hired drug courier, revealing that the cartel responsible for the trafficking promised her $3,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs in Nigeria.
NDLEA foils attempt to smuggle 42.2kg of Ghanaian loud to London
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives disrupted an attempt by a drug trafficking syndicate to export 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud (42.2kg) to London, UK through the export shed of Lagos airport on Friday, February 21. The consignment was concealed within crated cartons.
Three suspects—a freight agent and two dispatch riders—were initially arrested before the mastermind of the shipment, Samuel Bitris, was traced to his residence at Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos, where he was apprehended.
Drug seizures in Rivers, Nasarawa, and Niger states
Meanwhile, in Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers intercepted 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of Tamol (Tramadol 225mg) on Thursday, February 20. The discovery was made during a joint examination of a 40ft container in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
In Nasarawa State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Bello Adamu (40) and Pius Azuka (42), with 517kg of skunk at Kokona/Keffi on Saturday, February 22. Similarly, in Niger State, two other suspects, Usman Ruwa (43) and Yunusa Haruna (45), were caught transporting 62.7kg of skunk in a Toyota Corolla along Sabon Asibiti Road, Kontagora on Thursday, February 20.
Nationwide drug awareness campaigns
Alongside its enforcement operations, NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaigns across the country. Sensitization lectures were held in several schools, including:
- Maku Grammar School, Tapa, Oyo State
- Comprehensive Secondary School, Orogwe, Imo State
- Jama’atu Islamiyya Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi State
- Owerri-Aba Primary School, Ugwunagba, Imo State
NDLEA commends officers for successful operations
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the MMIA, PHPC, Niger, and Nasarawa Commands for their diligence in tackling drug trafficking. He commended their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction, reinforcing NDLEA’s commitment to curbing illicit drug activities nationwide.
These operations highlight NDLEA’s relentless fight against drug smuggling, ensuring Nigeria remains a hostile environment for drug cartels and traffickers.
