NDLEA Arrests Makeup Artist, Student and Others in Nationwide Drug Crackdown

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 43-year-old makeup artist, Adekoya Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 2.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in her suitcase. Adekoya, who claimed she was traveling to India for fibroid surgery, was intercepted on Monday, June 16, 2025, following credible intelligence.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, officers placed her under surveillance and allowed her to check in before she was apprehended at the boarding gate for her Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha. A search of her luggage revealed two large parcels of cocaine factory-fitted inside the walls of her suitcase.

During interrogation, Adekoya confessed that she was not traveling for surgery but had agreed to traffic the drugs in exchange for financial compensation. Investigations revealed that she was recruited and sponsored by a drug baron, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who owns Rockford Hotel in Sango, Ogun State, and resides in the Igbe Laara area of Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos.

In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives at a courier company intercepted a shipment of female clothing destined for Bahrain, which was found to contain 1.3kg of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis. At another courier facility the previous day, 850 grams of cocaine were discovered concealed in clothes hangers bound for Australia.

In Bauchi State, officers acting on intelligence arrested two suspects, Ibrahim Galadima (37) and Ibrahim Muhammed (28), along the Bauchi-Darazo road on June 16. They were found with over one million opioid pills, including Tramadol, Diazepam, and Exol-5.

Also, on Tuesday, June 17, operatives arrested Bishir Isyaku (38) at Gwargwaje, along the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway, with 14.2kg of skunk hidden in charcoal sacks, as well as 198kg of rubber solution. In Abuja, six suspects, including Murtala Adamu and Ahmed Ismai’l, were apprehended during raid operations at Karu Abattoir and Torabora areas on Wednesday, June 18. Officers recovered 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine.

In Kano, NDLEA officers arrested several suspects, including Umar Hamisu (19) and Dahiru Abdullahi (32), on June 19 along the Zaria-Kano road with 56.2kg of skunk. Other arrests included Obiwuru Henry with 23,720 tramadol capsules and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine, Abubakar Modu with 36.6kg of skunk, and Abdulkadir Muhammed with 32kg.

In Kwara State, a 22-year-old student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Olotin Nifemi, was arrested on June 19 along Kwara Poly Road, Ilorin. She was found with 1kg of skunk and identified as a key supplier of illicit substances to other students.

In Edo State, a major operation on June 20 led to the destruction of 4,226.11kg of skunk at Ugbada Camp in Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA, and the arrest of a suspect, Albert Shamaki (33). Additional raids at Big Jamaya supermarket in Emado and a provision shop in Idumeka, Igueben, resulted in the seizure of various illicit drugs and the arrest of suspects Esther Abumere (28) and Eko Gift (38).

Recovered substances included Colorado, Loud, Molly, Tramadol, and other opioids.