By Amofokhai Williams
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a major drug trafficking network that concealed cocaine in the heads of imported dry stock fish, leading to multiple arrests and seizures across the country.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the breakthrough followed intelligence on a trans-border syndicate involved in shipping illicit drugs to destinations including India.
Babafemi said operatives of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command carried out a coordinated sting operation at Ojo, Lagos, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
He stated that a 36-year-old suspect, Akputa Dickson Ejike, believed to be a key figure in the network, was arrested during the operation.
He noted that three jumbo bags recovered from the suspect contained 237 wraps of cocaine buried inside the heads of imported stockfish, locally known as “okporoko.”
According to him, the drugs weighed 5.80 kilogrammes and were meant for export to Delhi, India.
Babafemi further disclosed that in a separate operation, NDLEA operatives attached to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two consignments bound for the United Kingdom at a courier company in Lagos on March 25.
He stated that one of the shipments, which originated from Cotonou in the Benin Republic, concealed 1.9 kilogrammes of methamphetamine in automobile filters. He added that another parcel contained 40 ampoules of morphine sulphate and nine ampoules of fentanyl.
The NDLEA spokesman also revealed that a major raid conducted by the agency’s Special Operations Unit on March 26 led to the arrest of a notorious drug syndicate leader, Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, popularly known as “Iya Ghana,” at her residence in Yaba, Lagos.
Babafemi said the suspect, alongside her salesgirl, Sarah Zainab Agbabiaka, was apprehended at No. 13 Carter Street, where 135 blocks of “Ghana Loud,” a strain of cannabis weighing 76.30 kilogrammes, were recovered.
He stated that Jolayemi operated a drug distribution network between Nigeria and Ghana under the cover of a legitimate fabric business.
In another related arrest, Babafemi said operatives apprehended Anayo Lucky Ohabiro at Doyin bus stop in Surulere, Lagos, with 78 blocks of cannabis weighing 41 kilogrammes.
The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that in Ekiti State, operatives arrested an 80-year-old man, Oke Samuel, during a raid at Mosafuneto camp in Efon-Alaaye, recovering 2.2 kilogrammes of skunk and 1.8 grammes of methamphetamine.
He added that in Ondo State, officers raided an uncompleted building in Ogbese, Akure North, where 894.72 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized from a suspect, Enuwa Kehinde Kingsley.
Babafemi stated that in Benue State, 116.7 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from a suspect, Saater Nyam, during a raid at Pevi village in Guma Local Government Area.
He further noted that in Edo State, operatives uncovered a warehouse in Ekpoma, leading to the arrest of Felix Donald and the seizure of 576.5 kilogrammes of skunk as well as 33 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Taraba State, Babafemi said NDLEA officers intercepted a truck conveying 100 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 135 kilogrammes concealed in bags of animal feed. He stated that two suspects, Osama Mamuda and Auwal Umar, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Beyond enforcement, Babafemi noted that the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns across several states, including Cross River, Adamawa, Oyo, Kano and Lagos, targeting schools and communities with sensitisation programmes.
He added that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across various commands for their recent successes.
Babafemi said Marwa praised the agency’s personnel for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts nationwide, describing the operations as a significant boost in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
