Quick Summary:
NDLEA intercepts traffickers using fake baby bump and stomach concealment to smuggle cocaine and opioids through Kano airport and Seme border; multiple arrests and seizures nationwide.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled two unusual drug trafficking attempts involving a fake baby bump and ingested cocaine at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) and the Seme land border in Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, the operations exposed sophisticated concealment methods aimed at moving cocaine and opioids to Europe and other destinations.
Woman Caught with Fake Pregnancy at Seme Border
A 35-year-old businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, was intercepted at the Seme border while attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic, with a protruding tummy.
A full body search revealed that her pregnancy was fake, and the baby bump was a pink calabash used to conceal 3,200 capsules of tramadol tied around her stomach.
She reportedly planned to sell the drugs in Cotonou.
Ivorian Man Excretes 82 Wraps of Cocaine in Kano
The same day, NDLEA operatives at MAKIA, Kano, arrested 41-year-old Ivorian, Michael Gohouri (alias Anunwa Onyinye Michael), during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa.
A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances, and under observation, he excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms.
NDLEA said Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan on 17 January 2026, shuttled between Lagos and Enugu, and later travelled to Kano, where he ingested the drugs in a hotel room. He was promised €5,000 upon delivery in Milan.
He holds both Ivorian and Nigerian identities, with a resident permit in Italy valid until May 2026.
Real Estate Executive Arrested in Lagos
NDLEA also arrested Kolapo Oladapo Raji, Chairman/CEO of Trans Fortress Global Resources, a real estate firm, who had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025.
The 57-year-old was arrested at his Ikate, Lekki residence on 12 February 2026 after returning from the United Kingdom.
A search of his home uncovered four large bags containing 89.20kg of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and a 2024 Toyota Hilux.
Raji admitted financing drug consignments for an overseas associate and later establishing his own distribution network after earning hundreds of millions of naira in profits.
Nationwide Drug Seizures
- Lagos: Ugwuja Kingsley arrested with 56kg skunk at Agbara; Ekwe Arinze caught with 76kg at Oshodi.
- Port Harcourt (Onne): Joint operation uncovered 170,900 bottles of codeine syrup in a container flagged through intelligence-led inspection.
- Kogi: 7,300 tramadol pills hidden in sound systems seized on Okene/Lokoja highway; follow-up arrests made in Zuba, Abuja.
- Ondo: Bright Timothy (28) and Godwin Bernard arrested with 393kg skunk in Iju forest.
- Bauchi: Yahaya Adamu Gimba (48) arrested with 936kg skunk; four others caught with 85.8kg in Azare.
- Delta: Mgbeme Ejeoma (34) arrested with 37kg skunk in Ughelli.
- Edo: NDLEA destroyed 1,266.8kg skunk on three farms in Owan West LGA; arrested Evelyn Ogenewu (68) and Friday Iruoje (43).
NDLEA Commends Officers
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across MAKIA, Seme, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, PHPC, Ondo, Delta, and Kogi Commands for their successful operations.
He praised their balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to eradicating narcotics trafficking nationwide.