The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 43-year-old make-up artist, Adekoya Adebukola Mary, at Lagos airport, for attempting to smuggle 2.20 kilograms of cocaine while claiming she was travelling to India for fibroid surgery.
The drugs were discovered on Monday, June 16, 2025, after NDLEA officials acted on credible intelligence. According to the agency, the cocaine was carefully concealed in the factory-fitted walls of Adekoya’s suitcase.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated that the suspect was placed under surveillance and allowed to check in her luggage. She was then arrested at the boarding gate while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.
According to the NDLEA, “When her luggage was searched, two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.20kg were found concealed in the walls of the suitcase she was carrying.
In her statement, she claimed she embarked on the trip for financial benefits but under the pretext of going to India for surgery to remove fibroid from her stomach.”
Further investigations revealed that Adekoya was allegedly recruited and sponsored by a drug baron, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who remains at large. “Further investigation revealed the suspect was recruited and funded by a drug baron currently at large, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who owns Rockford Hotel located in Sango area of Ogun State while he lives at Igbe Laara in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state,” the agency said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) on Thursday, June 19, intercepted a consignment of sewn female dresses containing 1.3kg of “Loud”—a potent cannabis strain—en route to Bahrain at a courier company in Lagos. A day earlier, on Wednesday, June 18, another operation at a different courier firm uncovered 850 grams of cocaine hidden inside cloth hangers bound for Australia.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA agents acting on intelligence arrested two suspects—37-year-old Ibrahim Galadima and 28-year-old Ibrahim Muhammed—along the Bauchi-Darazo Road on Monday, June 16. Authorities recovered 1,013,000 opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.
Elsewhere, on Tuesday, June 17, 38-year-old Bishir Isyaku was apprehended at Gwargwaje, along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway, with 14.2kg of skunk concealed in charcoal sacks, along with seven cartons of rubber solution weighing 198kg.
In Abuja, a raid on Wednesday, June 18, led to the arrest of Murtala Adamu, Ahmed Ismai’l, and four others at Karu Abattoir and Torabora areas of the Federal Capital Territory. Recovered from the suspects were 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine.