Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a suspected international drug trafficking network after intercepting cocaine concealed inside the heads of imported dry stock fish in Lagos, while also seizing dangerous narcotics hidden in parcels bound for the United Kingdom.

A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Sunday, stated that the operation, which followed weeks of intelligence gathering on a transnational trafficking ring, culminated in a sting carried out by officers of the agency’s Strategic Command at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Babafemi said during the raid conducted in the Ojo area of the state, operatives arrested a 36-year-old suspect, Akputa Ejike, believed to be a key member of the syndicate responsible for exporting illicit drugs to several countries, particularly India.

He said a search of three large bags in his possession led to the discovery of 237 wraps of cocaine carefully hidden inside the heads of imported dry stock fish, popularly known as “Okporoko.” The concealed drugs weighed a total of 5.8 kilogrammes and were allegedly destined for Delhi, India.

In a related operation in Lagos, operatives from the agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted two suspicious consignments heading to the United Kingdom through a courier service.

One of the shipments, which originated from Cotonou in the neighbouring Republic of Benin, contained 1.9 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden inside automobile filters. Another parcel was found to contain 40 ampoules of morphine sulphate and nine ampoules of fentanyl, both highly controlled substances.

The agency also recorded a major breakthrough following a raid on a residence at Carter Street in the Yaba area of Lagos, where officers arrested a suspected drug syndicate leader, Omolade Jolayemi, aged 46, popularly known as “Iya Ghana.”

Jolayemi was arrested alongside her sales assistant, Sarah Agbabiaka, aged 31. Babafemi said during the operation, officers recovered 135 blocks of “Ghana Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis weighing 76.3 kilogrammes.

He said Jolayemi operated a local fabric business as a cover while allegedly coordinating a cannabis distribution network linking Nigeria and Ghana.

On the same day, operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit arrested another suspect, Anayo Ohabiro, aged 39, at Doyin bus stop in Surulere, Lagos, where 78 blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 41 kilogrammes were seized.

According to Babafemi, the crackdown extended to other parts of the country. In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives arrested an 80-year-old man, Oke Samuel, during a raid at Mosafuneto Camp along Erinmo Road in Efon-Alaaye. Officers recovered 2.2 kilogrammes of skunk and 1.8 grammes of methamphetamine from him.

In neighbouring Ondo State, officers raided an uncompleted building in Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area, leading to the seizure of 894.72 kilogrammes of skunk from a suspect identified as Enuwa Kingsley, aged 37. 

Additional seizures were recorded in other states. In Benue State, a raid in Pevi village in Guma Local Government Area led to the arrest of Saater Nyam, aged 35, and the recovery of 116.7 kilogrammes of skunk.

In Edo State, operatives uncovered a warehouse in Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area, resulting in the arrest of Felix Donald, aged 25, and the seizure of 576.5 kilogrammes of skunk along with 36 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.

In Taraba State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence intercepted a truck marked DUT 457 ZB transporting 100 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 135 kilogrammes concealed inside bags of animal feed along a route from Garbachede to Gombe State. Two suspects, Osama Mamuda, aged 21, and Auwal Umar, aged 22, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

Meanwhile, the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse advocacy campaign continued across several states with sensitisation programmes held in schools including Community Secondary School in Itigidi, Cross River State; Government Girls Secondary School in Yola, Adamawa State; Islamic High School in Igbeti, Oyo State; Gidan Sarki Primary School in Kano State; and Royal Legends Academy in Ibeshe, Ikorodu in Lagos State.

Commending the officers involved in the recent operations, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, praised commands in Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, Benue, Edo and Taraba states for their vigilance and professionalism.

He also applauded other state commands across the country for maintaining a balance between efforts to reduce the supply of illicit drugs and programmes aimed at preventing drug abuse through public awareness campaigns.