NDLEA Uncovers Cocaine in Religious Books Bound for Saudi, Nabs Bandits’ Drug Supplier Concealing Narcotics on Body
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine cleverly concealed in religious books and made several drug-related arrests across multiple states as part of intensified nationwide operations.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, April 20, 2025, by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters, the agency discovered the cocaine shipment at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, April 15.
“The cocaine consignment, weighing 500 grams and consisting of 20 parcels, was hidden within 20 sets of religious books bound for Saudi Arabia,” the statement said. The operation was conducted by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) while screening outbound cargo.
On the same day, NDLEA operatives intercepted five parcels of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 2.8 kilograms. The drugs were concealed in a carton arriving from the United States at another courier facility in Lagos.
In Kano, a 22-year-old identified as Muhammad Mohammed was arrested along Bichi–Kano road while en route to Katsina. NDLEA agents discovered 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection strapped to his thighs and private parts with Sellotape. That same day, another suspect, 43-year-old Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, was caught with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 30 kilograms in the Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano.
A major drug bust in Bayelsa State on Wednesday, April 16, led to the seizure of 557.2kg of cannabis, 5.6kg of methamphetamine, and 29.8 grams of heroin from a residence in Opolo, Yenagoa. Four suspects were arrested: Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis (46), Roland Prosper (34), Sarimiye Tare Paul (45), and Fidelis Ugbesla (46).
In another significant seizure, 1,100kg of cannabis was recovered from a delivery van in Surulere, Lagos, on Thursday, April 17, with the driver, Ismail Abdullahi, taken into custody. In Kaduna, a raid in Zaria on Friday, April 18, led to the arrest of Ike Ani, 30, and the recovery of 31,950 pills of Tramadol (225mg) and Diazepam.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Kebbi State intercepted a vehicle along Bagudo road carrying 97kg of cannabis concealed in sacks of charcoal. The shipment had originated from Malabil, Benin Republic. Three suspects—Abubakar Ibrahim (50), Mustapha Aliyu (32), and Bashar Lawali (28)—were arrested.
In Anambra State, 48-year-old Okafor Marcel was apprehended with 11.5kg of cannabis in Abatete, while in Osogbo, Osun State, NDLEA officers arrested 27-year-old Ajala Mercy at Dada Estate with 43 litres of “skushi,” a local drink made from black currant mixed with cannabis and opioids.
Also in Edo State, two cannabis farms were discovered in the Egbeta forest of Ovia North East LGA, where 3,717.86kg of cannabis was destroyed and 136.5kg of processed cannabis was recovered.
At the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, a suspect who had been on the run for two years, Basorun Usman Kayode, 40, was arrested in connection with a 2023 seizure of 107kg of Loud imported from Canada. Another suspect, Dauda Yakubu, was also arrested for distributing illicit drugs within the seaport community on Monday, April 14.
In addition to enforcement efforts, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in several schools and communities nationwide. Outreach activities were held at institutions including St. Michael Anglican Primary School in Lagos, Community Grammar School in Ekiti, and the College of Education in Minna, Niger State. Traders and transport workers in Osun, Cross River, and Anambra states were also sensitized.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operatives for their efforts across various commands.
“I commend the officers and men of DOGI, Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Osun, Zone 13, Edo, and Tincan Commands for their arrests and seizures. I also praise all commands nationwide for maintaining a strategic balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts,” Marwa said.