NDLEA seizes 1,960kg of cannabis on Lagos beach and arrests six foreign nationals

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 1,960 kilograms of cannabis and arrested six foreign nationals at Eleko Beach, Lekki, Lagos.

In a pre-dawn operation conducted at 2:30am on Christmas Eve, operatives of the NDLEA Marine Command seized two boats loaded with Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, smuggled from Ghana.

According to the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the operation resulted in the arrest of six foreign nationals involved in trafficking.

Among them were two Ghanaians, Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33) and four Beninese nationals: Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34) and Ayao Kayivi (21).

Paris-bound businessman arrested at Abuja airport

Babafemi also said that in a separate operation, the agency also arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur, as he tried to board an Air France flight 844 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport , NAIA Abuja to Paris, France for ingesting 74 wraps. of heroin and cocaine.

According to him, Orizu was arrested at the Abuja airport boarding gate on Sunday, December 22, 2024, during the release of Air France passengers.

“When he was taken aside for a body scan, he refused the request, claiming his medical condition would not allow it.

“He was then taken into custody for observation of excretion during which he excreted a total of 74 packets of Class A drugs over a seven-day period.

“In his statement, Orizu claimed that he owns a shop at Balogun market, Lagos Island, where he sells school and travel bags, adding that he was promised N3,000 upon successful delivery of the consignment to Paris. He left his base in Lagos for Abuja airport to connect his Air France flight to Paris in the hope of escaping detection.” explained Babafemi.

Other arrests and seizures

In Katsina, Babafemi announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with cannabis trafficking. On Christmas Day, December 25, Ibrahim Shaibu, 35, was arrested in possession of 40 packets of compressed cannabis sativa the size of an album weighing 35kg at Central Motor Park, Katsina.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, December 28, Umar Ahmed, 47, was caught along the Zaria-Malumfashi road, Katsina, with 27 packets of the same psychoactive substance weighing 13.5kg.

He also said that in Edo State, Kosisochukwu Ozigbo, 21, was arrested on the new road in Lagos, Benin City, when the area was raided on Monday, December 23 by NDLEA operatives.

“Recovered from the suspect include: 32,490 tramadol 225mg, 200mg and 100mg pills; 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup and various amounts of other opioids.” added Babafemi.

Advocacy and awareness campaigns

Beyond enforcement, NDLEA commands across the country have stepped up their War on Drug Abuse (WADA) campaigns. Outreach programs have been conducted in schools, markets and communities, with notable efforts in Lagos and Adamawa states.

The President of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their outstanding performance and urged them to sustain their efforts in 2024 by intensifying actions against drug lords while promoting WADA campaigns.