ABUJA, NIGERIA: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disrupted multiple international drug trafficking rings, seizing illicit substances valued at billions of naira and arresting several suspects at major Nigerian transport hubs.

Major Heroin Seizure at Abuja Airport

NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja apprehended a 38-year-old South African national, Will Jessica Ann, arriving from Doha on Qatar Airways Flight QR1433. The suspect, who was traveling with her three-year-old son, allegedly attempted to smuggle 5.75 kilograms of heroin divided into 14 large blocks across two suitcases.

According to a statement by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect initially disclaimed ownership of any checked baggage. However, investigators verified that the baggage tags matched the claim slips attached to her passport, leading her to acknowledge ownership of the luggage. Intelligence reports indicate the suspect operates within a transnational drug syndicate spanning the Cambodia-South Africa axis alongside her partner.

Narcotic Interceptions in Lagos

In a separate enforcement action at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, authorities detained Onyechere Chinadu, a 48-year-old commercial motorcyclist arriving from Madagascar via Addis Ababa.

• Initial Discovery: Operatives uncovered 87 wraps of methamphetamine hidden inside clothing within his backpack.

• Ingested Narcotics: The suspect admitted to ingesting additional pellets in Uganda prior to a failed entry into Madagascar, after which his handlers rerouted him to Lagos.

• Total Recovery: Following a period of medical observation, the suspect excreted 13 more pellets, bringing the total haul to 100 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.715 kilograms.

Meanwhile, at the Apapa Seaport, a joint operation involving the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service, and additional security agencies led to the interception of a shipping container originating from Montreal, Canada. Following weeks of intelligence tracking by the Maritime Intelligence Unit, officers uncovered 8,287 bags of "Canadian Loud," a potent synthetic cannabis strain. The shipment weighed 4,143.5 kilograms and carries an estimated street value exceeding N10.3 billion.

Additionally, couriers in Lagos intercepted 2.5 kilograms of skunk concealed inside a gas compressor intended for export to Cyprus.

National Advocacy and Institutional Response

Alongside tactical enforcement, the NDLEA has expanded its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative. The agency conducted educational lectures targeting secondary school students across Ebonyi, Kano, Ekiti, and Ogun states. Furthermore, leadership from the Zone 14 Command held strategic advocacy talks with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to strengthen regional counter-narcotic cooperation.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the personnel involved in the operations for successfully balancing supply reduction with community sensitization. Marwa urged commands nationwide to maintain operational momentum against illicit drug networks.