NDLEA Arrests Woman With Fake Pregnancy, Real Pills
ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disrupted a sophisticated web of drug trafficking operations spanning from the Seme land border to the high-brow Safe Court Apartments in Lekki. Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, confirmed on Sunday that operatives foiled a bizarre attempt by 35-year-old Rabi Muhammad to smuggle 3,200 tramadol capsules into the Benin Republic. Muhammad, a Kano-based businesswoman, utilized a pink-colored calabash to simulate a “baby bump” before a full body search at Seme exposed the deception. Consequently, the Agency has intensified its border surveillance as cartels adopt increasingly desperate and unorthodox concealment methods to bypass traditional security checks.
In a related development at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), operatives intercepted an Ivorian national, Michael Gohouri, attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan. A mandatory body scan confirmed the ingestion of illicit substances, leading to the excretion of 82 cocaine wraps weighing 1.49 kilograms. Furthermore, the 41-year-old suspect revealed he anticipated a 5,000-euro payout upon delivery in Italy. While it is true that Gohouri possessed a valid Italian residence permit, his Nigerian National Identification Number (NIN) suggests deep local roots. Indeed, his journey through Lagos, Enugu, and Kano highlights the inter-state transit corridors used by international drug mules.
The NDLEA achieved a significant breakthrough in Lagos with the arrest of a notable real estate mogul, Kolapo Oladapo Raji. Operatives apprehended the 57-year-old Chairman of Trans Fortress Global Resources at his Lekki residence following a long-term intelligence operation. Granted, Raji claimed he turned to drug distribution after financing consignments for overseas associates to earn massive profits. Significantly, search teams recovered 89.20kg of “Canadian Loud,” a potent cannabis strain, and a 2024 Toyota Hilux from his premises. Notably, this arrest underscores the increasing involvement of white-collar professionals in the financing and logistics of high-stakes drug distribution networks.
Across the federation, the Agency’s “Phase Eight” offensive continues to yield massive recoveries in Edo, Bauchi, and Rivers states. At the Onne Port, a joint examination uncovered 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed within a single container. Similarly, operatives in Edo State raided the Etiosa camp, destroying over 1,200kg of skunk across three separate farms. Although the Agency continues its “War Against Drug Abuse” (WADA) sensitization in schools, the volume of seizures suggests a persistent supply-side challenge. Therefore, Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has lauded the “balanced approach” of his officers in reducing both supply and demand.
The focus of the NDLEA remains on dismantling the financial infrastructure of kingpins like Raji to ensure total sector disruption. Therefore, the Agency must continue its high-pressure interdiction strategy to keep pace with the evolving tactics of organized crime. As a result of these coordinated busts, the 2026 security outlook for Nigeria’s borders shows a hardening of defense protocols.