The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 43-year-old makeup artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, at the Lagos International Airport for attempting to smuggle 2.2 kilograms of cocaine. The drugs were carefully hidden in the walls of her luggage.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Adekoya was caught on June 16, 2025, while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight to India through Doha. Though she claimed she was traveling for fibroid surgery, investigations revealed her real mission was drug trafficking.

NDLEA allowed her to check in her bag under surveillance and arrested her at the boarding gate. A search of her luggage exposed two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.2kg. She later confessed that she was offered financial benefits to make the trip, using the surgery as a cover story.

Further findings showed that she was working for a wanted drug baron, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who owns Rockford Hotel in the Sango area of Ogun State and resides in Igbe Laara, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos.

In other operations:

On June 19, NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos intercepted a shipment of female dresses stuffed with 1.3kg of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, headed to Bahrain. A day earlier, 850 grams of cocaine concealed in clothes hangers bound for Australia were also discovered at another courier service.

In Bauchi, on June 16, officers arrested Ibrahim Galadima and Ibrahim Muhammed along the Bauchi-Darazo road with over 1 million pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.

On June 17, 38-year-old Bishir Isyaku was caught on the Kaduna–Zaria highway with 14.2kg of skunk hidden in charcoal sacks and seven cartons of rubber solution weighing 198kg.

In Abuja, a raid on June 18 led to the arrest of Murtala Adamu, Ahmed Ismai’l, and four others in the Karu Abattoir and Torabora areas. Officers recovered 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine.

NDLEA officers in Kano arrested Umar Hamisu and Dahiru Abdullahi with 56.2kg of skunk on the Zaria-Kano road. The same day, Obiwuru Henry was caught with 23,720 tramadol capsules and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine. Additionally, Abubakar Modu was found with 36.6kg and Abdulkadir Muhammed with 32kg of skunk along the same route.

In Kwara State, a 22-year-old student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Olotin Nifemi, known for selling drugs to students, was arrested with 1kg of skunk at her base near the campus.

In Edo State, NDLEA destroyed 4,226.11kg of cannabis during a raid on Ugbada camp in the Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA. One suspect, Albert Shamaki, was arrested. Another raid on a supermarket in the Emado community, Esan West LGA, led to the arrest of Esther Abumere and the recovery of drugs like Colorado, Loud, Molly, Tramadol, and other opioids. At a provision shop in Idumeka, Igueben, 1.143kg of skunk was seized and a female suspect, Eko Gift, was arrested.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) commended officers across the Lagos Airport, DOGI, and the Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Edo, and FCT commands for their commitment to curbing drug trafficking. He also praised their efforts in balancing drug supply and demand control across the country.