How NDLEA Intercepted China, Italy-bound Cocaine Concealed in Local Mortar, Backpack in Lagos

…Nabs notorious drug dealer in Rivers Island, bandits’ supplier in Zamfara

Fresh details have emerged how operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted consignments of cocaine concealed in local mortar and false bottom of a backpack packaged for shipment to China and Italy respectively through a logistics company in Lagos.

This was contained in a statement by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

According to the statement, the seizures made by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations (DOGI) on Thursday 30th July 2026 include 250grams of cocaine factory fitted into the base of a local mortar packed in a carton for export to China, and 500grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack being shipped to Italy.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Rivers state have arrested a 38-year-old notorious drug dealer, Ugo Gift Okonkwo, at Eagle Island Port Harcourt, following credible intelligence.

The suspect was nabbed with various quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, swinol, tramadol and codeine syrup at the time of his arrest on Sunday 26th July.

NDLEA officers on a stop and search operation at DMGS roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra state on Monday 27th July intercepted a truck marked XK 131 BDG loaded with 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 3,960kg while the truck driver Chinedu Nwanze, 40, was arrested.

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While 331.84 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number KUJ 26 DV along Kwale/Ughelli expressway, Delta state on Sunday 26th July, NDLEA officers in Nasarawa state on Tuesday 28th July arrested a 64-year-old man Joseph Nwaeke with 68kg skunk and 29grams of methamphetamine at Asso Angwan Muazu, Karu area of the state.

In Zamfara, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Zaria- Gusau highway on Monday 27th July intercepted a suspect, Sani Umar, 27, conveying 7,400 pills of tramadol 225mg suspected to be supplies for criminal elements.

The statement said that with the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Hausawa Special Primary School, Kano; Royal Crown School, Oluyole, Ibadan; Government Secondary School, Ibi, Taraba; and drivers at Challenge Bus Terminal Park, Ibadan, Oyo state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Nasarawa, and Zamfara Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

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