NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Shipment, Arrests India-Bound Student
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted a shipment of illicit drugs and arrested a student attempting to smuggle cocaine before her return flight to India. Esther Onyinyechi Uzodinma, a 26-year-old nursing student at Noida International University in India, was detained at the Royal Park Hotel in Kano on the eve of her flight. She had planned to ingest 76 wraps of cocaine, weighing approximately 1.340 kilograms, concealed in her body before boarding a Qatar Airways flight to Delhi on January 17th, 2025.
Esther’s arrest followed the interception of Cosmas Okorie, a 31-year-old man traveling from Lagos to Kano, who was carrying the cocaine in a speaker. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Esther while she awaited the drugs in her hotel room. Esther revealed that a drug cartel in India had recruited her, funded her trip to Nigeria, and promised her $5,000 upon successful delivery of the cocaine to India.
In separate operations, NDLEA operatives arrested 33 suspects across various locations. These included individuals caught in Kogi, Lagos, Kwara, Kano, Abuja, and Taraba, with significant drug seizures, including tramadol pills, cannabis, and methamphetamines. In Lagos, a major bust occurred in Ojodu-Berger, where authorities seized 4.9kg of synthetic cannabis, and in Igando, over 1,600kg of cannabis and tramadol pills were recovered.
On January 18th, two individuals, Olashile Okoya and Mohammed Ibrahim, were arrested in Lekki, Lagos, with 28kg of Canadian Loud, a potent form of cannabis. Additionally, authorities in Kano uncovered large quantities of skunk, ‘suck and die’ psychoactive substance, and rubber solution.
As part of a broader effort to combat drug abuse, NDLEA agents also carried out public sensitization programs in schools, religious centers, and communities. These activities included lectures at institutions such as NUD Basic Primary School, Corpus Christi College, and others in various states.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the agency’s officers for their diligent work in reducing drug trafficking. He urged continued efforts to combat both drug supply and demand across the country.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday, January 19th, 2025
