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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos have recovered 23 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 11.3Kg, hidden in microwaves imported from Thailand.
The illicit substance, which came in as part of a consolidated cargo via Ethiopian Airlines from Bangkok through Addis Ababa, was intercepted on Monday, July 7, following credible intelligence.
A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said a suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike, was arrested in connection with the consignment.
“The Loud consignment was part of a consolidated cargo that came in two tranches on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Based on credible intelligence, the cargo was subjected to a thorough search during which 23 parcels of loud weighing 11.3kg concealed in new microwaves were recovered on Monday, 7th July 2025.
“A suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike has been arrested in connection with the seizure,” the statement partly read.
Babafemi said in a similar operation barely a week after a cocaine seizure en route to the UK, NDLEA officials at the Lagos airport’s export shed intercepted 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine ingeniously built into ladies’ lipsticks destined for Malabo, Guinea.
He said, “Barely a week after a total of 420grams of cocaine factory fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK were seized at a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport have intercepted another consignment of cocaine built into ladies’ lipsticks as part of a cargo containing hair attachments, face powder, and other items heading to Malabo, Guinea.
“No less than 400grams of cocaine and phenacetine, a cutting agent, were recovered from the lipsticks when dismantled while a businessman at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam was arrested on Friday, 11th July in connection with the seizure.”
Babafemi noted that operatives also arrested Okechukwu Izugha, also known as Okey Omeogo, a notorious drug kingpin who had been on the run for a year.
He said Izugha was tracked and apprehended on Wednesday, July 9, at his wife’s shop in the Ijesha Market area of Lagos.
His arrest follows the earlier seizure of 9kg of cocaine linked to him on August 7, 2024, and the subsequent arrest and conviction of his wife, Maureen Izugha, who was caught with 500 grams of cocaine in January 2025.
“Izugha came under NDLEA radar on 7th August 2024 after a 9kg cocaine was recovered from a suspect, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at a motor park in Orile, Lagos, while going to deliver the consignment in the southeast. Izugha was identified as the owner of the seized drug.
“In the course of investigating the kingpin and his network, his wife, Maureen Izugha, was arrested with 500 grams of cocaine at her beverage store in Ijesha market on 21st January 2025. She was thereafter arraigned in court, convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
“Unknown to him that NDLEA was still on his trail, the wanted kingpin came out of his hiding and was promptly arrested last Wednesday”, he added.
In Edo State, he said operatives destroyed over 28,000Kg of cannabis (skunk) discovered on three farms covering 11 hectares in Ewere Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA.
“They recovered an additional 82kg of processed cannabis. Officers came under attack by armed cartel members as they exited the forest but were able to repel the assault without casualties, though one operational vehicle was riddled with bullets,” he added.
He also said in Lagos, operatives intercepted 1,400 blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis weighing 700kg at Okun-Ajah Beach, seizing a Ford delivery truck and arresting two suspects, Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul.
Babafemi stated that further raids yielded 26kg of cannabis, 123 grams of methamphetamine, 45 grams of Molly, and another delivery van.
“While NDLEA operatives in Borno state on Saturday, 12th July arrested Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi, 42, with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, pills of tramadol and rohypnol at Njimtilo, Maiduguri, coming on the heels of the seizure of 10,000 pills of tramadol from another suspect, Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu, 34, on Wednesday, 9th July, their counterparts in Gombe State recovered a total of 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 from five suspects: Hafiz Bello, 22; Isah Suleman.
“Others are 48; Kabiru Muhammed, 30; Abdullahi Adamu, 30; and Abel Murna, 25, at Gombe main market and along Gombe-Kano road on Tuesday, July 8 and Saturday, July 12.
“A suspect, Sabiu Bala, was on Thursday, July 10, arrested along Okene-Lokoja expressway in Kogi state while conveying 316.600kg skunk, while another suspect, Haladu Suleiman, 38, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 58.805kg of the same substance in Gubuchi area of Ikara LGA, Kaduna state,” the statement added.
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