NDLEA arrests Ugandan woman with 87 cocaine wraps, seizes N900m opioids
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman, Farida Nansubuga, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.15 kilogrammes of cocaine out of Nigeria, while intercepting 750,000 tablets of illicit opioids valued at N900m at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The agency also recorded several drug seizures and arrests across the country, involving cannabis, tramadol, synthetic cannabis chemicals, ketamine and other controlled substances destined for local and international markets.
According to a statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Nansubuga was arrested on Tuesday, November 3, during a joint passenger screening exercise involving NDLEA operatives and aviation security personnel at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.
The suspect was preparing to board a flight to Uganda when officers discovered 87 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.15 kilogrammes concealed around her pelvic region beneath two layers of underwear.
Babafemi said preliminary investigations showed that Nansubuga arrived in Nigeria on October 29 with members of her church for a prayer session at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos.
While the other members of her delegation returned to Uganda after the religious programme, she allegedly remained in Nigeria to collect the cocaine consignment on behalf of a friend identified as Joy, who lives in Uganda.
Babafemi said: “She came to Nigeria with members of her church for spiritual renewal at a prayer session in Lagos.
“But when it was time to go home, 34-year-old Ugandan, Ms Farida Nansubuga, chose a different path.
“While the rest of her delegation flew back to Uganda, she stayed behind, not to pray some more, but to pick up a consignment of cocaine, which she hid in her private part in a bid to smuggle it into her country.
“Her plan, however, came crashing down at the MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, when operatives of the NDLEA intercepted her at the screening point of Terminal 2 during a joint passenger screening exercise with aviation security personnel.
“She was due to board a Ugandan airline flight to her home country.”
According to the agency, a contact in Nigeria arranged transportation for the suspect to a hotel on the morning of her departure, where an unidentified man allegedly handed over the drugs.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that she was instructed to conceal the cocaine beneath her clothing to evade airport security.
Babafemi said: “During preliminary interview, the suspect said she arrived in Nigeria on 29th October 2026 with members of her church for a prayer session at The Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe area of Lagos.
“She claimed that after the prayer session, the other members of her delegation returned to Uganda while she stayed back to collect the illicit consignment on behalf of a friend, simply identified as Joy, who resides in Uganda.”
Nansubuga reportedly said she expected to receive at least $1,000 after successfully delivering the consignment in Uganda, although no specific payment had been agreed upon.
In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at N900m.
The consignment, comprising 11 cartons packed in two wooden structures, arrived from Ahmedabad, India, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on November 3 and was allegedly declared as Paracetamol 500mg tablets.
Following suspicions over the declaration, the agency placed the shipment under surveillance before conducting a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies on November 6.
The examination revealed that 10 cartons contained the opioid tablets, while only one carton contained paracetamol tablets used as cover.
The agency also intercepted 32 parcels of Loud weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, concealed in two wooden sofas in a consolidated cargo shipment from Houston, United States.
The seizure led to the arrest of a freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, who presented himself to clear the shipment. A follow-up operation also resulted in the arrest of an Ibadan-based caterer, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, who allegedly came to collect the package.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives dismantled a syndicate involved in importing chemicals used in the production of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, from the United Kingdom.
The operation followed the interception of nine parcels concealed in two cartons of snacks labelled “Michael Tea Guy” in a consolidated cargo shipment that arrived aboard an Air Peace flight from the UK on October 23.
While two of the parcels contained 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis, forensic analysis showed that the remaining seven contained chemicals used in producing synthetic cannabis.
A 51-year-old freight agent, Afolabi Abiodun Wale, was arrested while attempting to clear the shipment.
A subsequent sting operation conducted between October 26 and 28 led to the arrest of another suspect, 51-year-old Okwuite Benjamin Ojone, who allegedly took delivery of additional cartons from the UK.
Further examination resulted in the recovery of 3.30 kilogrammes of substances concealed in detergent packs and 16.25 kilogrammes of mostly liquid chemicals in plastic bottles.
The total seizure amounted to 28.65 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis chemicals and 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis.
The agency also intercepted 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes at courier companies in Lagos on November 3. The consignment was reportedly destined for the United Kingdom.
Earlier, on October 30, operatives intercepted 296 tablets of Swinol intended for Australia, alongside three shipments of tramadol destined for the UK.
The shipments included 20 capsules from Benin City and 96 capsules from Sapele, Delta State, concealed in vitamin C containers, as well as 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba, hidden inside female headwear.
Beyond the airport and international trafficking operations, the agency recorded several arrests and seizures across different states.
In Lagos, a 32-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ali, was arrested at Marine Beach, Apapa, on November 6, after operatives discovered a concealed drug store inside the sitting room of his apartment. Recovered substances included tramadol, pregabalin, diazepam, codeine and 6.07 kilogrammes of cannabis.
In Ondo State, operatives recovered 148 bags of cannabis weighing 1,818 kilogrammes during a raid at Odofin Road, Uso. They also destroyed a one-hectare cannabis plantation in Board Forest, recovered another 242 kilogrammes of the substance and arrested a 36-year-old suspect, Itoro Linus Akpan.
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In Ekiti State, a 53-year-old man, Agbo Paul Peter, was arrested at Osin Forest, Osin-Ekiti, with 216 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds.
Edo State operatives intercepted a Golf saloon car conveying 19 bags of cannabis weighing 201 kilogrammes along the Auchi-Ibillo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
The driver, Abdulmumid Isah, 39, and his passenger, Danako Godwin, 25, were arrested. A separate raid on a drug joint along Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, also led to the arrest of three suspects with quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis.
In Taraba State, three suspects were arrested within two days with 283 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 226.255 kilogrammes at the agency’s checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area.
Enugu State operatives arrested a 57-year-old man, Celestine Uzochukwu Ejiakor, with 44 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.5 kilogrammes at the Eke Obinagu checkpoint.
Another suspect, 40-year-old Godwin Shaapera, was arrested at the Ugwuoba checkpoint with 24,000 capsules of tramadol weighing 13.4 kilogrammes and 697 grammes of ketamine.
In Delta State, operatives arrested Edugua Othuke, 30, at Ozoro, Isoko North, with 10.54 kilogrammes of skunk, 9.4 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and 4.3 grammes of methamphetamine.
Another suspect, Akpofure Tobore, 34, was arrested at Upper Agbarho, Ughelli, with quantities of skunk, tramadol, rohypnol and laughing gas.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA said it sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country, including Oyo, Ebonyi, Kano and Anambra states.
The agency’s Zone 1 Command also conducted an advocacy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, HRH Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu.
Commending officers involved in the operations across Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Taraba and Enugu states, NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described Nansubuga’s arrest as evidence of how drug cartels exploit religious activities and travel to recruit couriers.
Marwa said: “The case of the Ugandan woman is a sad reminder that drug cartels will stop at nothing, including exploiting faith and religious travel, to recruit couriers for their deadly trade.
“I urge officers across all commands to sustain the tempo of their supply and demand reduction efforts.”
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