NDLEA Arrests Dispatch Riders Delivering Illicit Drugs In Abuja  …Intercepts Drugs Concealed In Vehicle Side Mirror 

Three dispatch riders have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abuja for allegedly distributing illegal substances across the city.

The suspects: Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28 were apprehended during intelligence-led stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the Federal Capital Territory, last Wednesday.

The NDLEA, in a statement by its  spokesman, Femi Babafemi,  yesterday, said a total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, were recovered from the suspects who used motorcycles typically employed for commercial dispatch services.

”In Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducting intelligence-led stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the FCT on Wednesday, 30th July, arrested three dispatch riders: Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28, for distributing illicit substances around the city.

“A total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis were recovered from them, ” he said.

Babafemi also said operatives intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors being sent to Libreville, Gabon through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

He added that three suspects linked to the cargo were arrested in follow-up operations.

According to Babafemi, “The first batch of the consignment consisting 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of Cocaine weighing 1.60kg were intercepted in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

“A popular cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, handling the shipment was immediately arrested, after which further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah on Sunday 20th July.

“Eleven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 1kg were later recovered from four additional side mirrors being prepared for export found in the home of Uzochukwu on Monday 21st July, bringing the total number of parcels of cocaine to 68 weighing 2.60 kilograms.”

In a related development, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives last Friday, arrested a businesswoman, Nwafor Nneka, at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, following the interception of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine, a cutting agent, concealed in ladies’ lipsticks going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the export shed of the Lagos airport on 10th July 2025.

“Two cargo agents linked to the shipment were earlier arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka who runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run.

“In her statement, Nwafor admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband handled the actual concealment, ” Babafemi added.

Also in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA officers acting on intelligence on Saturday, August 2, arrested Joseph Michael with 3.3kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis in Mushin.

One Ibrahim Sulaiman was also nabbed in Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of skuchies last Friday.

“No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol capsules were seized from a suspect, Hussein Yusuf, 37, at an NDLEA checkpoint along Vandeikya-Ogoja road in Benue state on Friday, August 1, while operatives in Edo state same day raided a warehouse in Ekpoma where a suspect William Alabi, 44, was arrested and 233.5kg skunk recovered, ” he added.

In Borno State, Babafemi said operatives at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, intercepted a consignment of 160 pills of tramadol concealed in footwear last Friday, August 1.

The illicit drugs were discovered on a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu, who was promptly arrested upon arrival.

Elsewhere in Ogun State, he said the agency raided the Oja Odan area the same day, arresting a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat Seyi, with 7,218 pills of opioids, predominantly tramadol.

”In Bayelsa state, NDLEA officers on Friday 1st August arrested 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, along Tantua road, Amassoma where a total of 41,705 tramadol capsules, among other assorted opioids, were recovered from their shop and residence, while a suspect Bashir Gambo, 30, was nabbed at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA, Kano state, with 61kg skunk.

“Two suspects: Kabiru Ayinde, 40; and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were on Monday 28th July arrested at Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun state, where 90kg skunk, 36.3grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF and ?228,200.00 cash exhibit were recovered from them, “the statement added.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA has also intercepted illicit drugs hidden inside vehicle side mirrors.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a post shared via his X handle on Sunday.

He wrote, “They’ve found another use for our vehicles side mirrors as discovered by #ndlea_nigeria officers in one of our latest seizures. Let’s be more careful #NDLEA”

The latest seizure adds to a growing list of unconventional concealment methods employed by drug traffickers in recent times, including stuffing drugs in lipstick tubes, prayer beads, clothes hangers and dress seams.

The agency said it has intensified its surveillance and profiling efforts at all entry and exit points across the country, warning traffickers that it remains steps ahead of their desperate tactics.