NDLEA Foils Shocking Smuggling Attempt by Ihensekhien Obehi, Catches Cocaine Concealed in Private Parts

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a series of significant drug busts across Nigeria, highlighting the relentless efforts of Nigerian authorities to combat the trafficking of illicit substances both within and outside the country. Recent operations have led to the seizure of over 3,600 kilograms of drugs, along with the arrest of several individuals involved in trafficking operations that spanned international borders.

On Sunday, May 3, 2025, a woman identified as Ihensekhien Obehi was detained by NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight bound for Iran via Doha. Obehi, who had disguised herself in a hijab, was found attempting to smuggle cocaine using highly unusual concealment methods. During her search, officers discovered three wraps of cocaine hidden in her private parts, two large parcels tucked away in false compartments within her handbag, and 67 pellets of cocaine she had swallowed.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi explained that Obehi, who initially planned to swallow 70 pellets, was unable to continue after ingesting 67 due to discomfort, prompting her to insert the remaining three wraps in a more discreet location. After being placed under observation, Obehi expelled all 67 pellets over a span of several days, making it clear that her operation was part of a larger scheme involving international drug trafficking. The total weight of the drugs concealed on her person amounted to 2.523 kilograms.

Just days later, on May 9, 2025, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos intercepted another major drug smuggling attempt. Campbell Slifer, a 22-year-old British national, was apprehended with two suitcases containing 35 parcels of "Loud" cannabis, a particularly potent strain of marijuana. The total weight of the seized drugs was a staggering 37.6 kilograms. Upon questioning, Slifer confessed that he had been recruited in London to collect the drugs in Thailand and deliver them to Nigeria. This arrest added to the growing list of international drug trafficking operations being thwarted by Nigerian authorities.

Further highlighting the extent of the trafficking network, operatives in Niger State successfully intercepted a large-scale drug shipment. A fuel tanker, along with three other vehicles, was stopped along the Suleja-Kaduna Road. The vehicles were found to be carrying a massive haul of 246 bags of skunk, a form of cannabis, weighing a total of 3,047 kilograms. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the trafficking operation: Christopher Onyema, 47; Benedict Etineruba Young, 54; Chukwudi Ujue Jerry, 30; and Mohammed Abdullahi Danasabe. The operation also resulted in the recovery of several vehicles, including a Honda Odyssey bus and a Gulf bus, which were used to transport the illicit drugs.

In addition to these high-profile arrests, the NDLEA also made key interceptions in Lagos, Bauchi, and Kano. On May 6, 2025, officers in Bauchi State seized 526 blocks of skunk, weighing 505 kilograms, from a Toyota Tundra jeep. Two suspects, Isaac Onogure, 37, and Ikechukwu Peter, 44, were taken into custody for their involvement in the operation. Similarly, in Kano, NDLEA operatives raided a hideout in the Rijiyar Zaki area, where they recovered 31 kegs containing 775 liters of codeine syrup. The two suspects involved, Hafizu Isa Uman, 34, and Ismail Shehu, 48, were arrested during the raid.

These seizures form part of a wider crackdown by the NDLEA on both local and international drug trafficking operations that have long been a significant threat to public health and safety in Nigeria. NDLEA’s continuous vigilance and sophisticated detection methods have proven effective in dismantling the complex networks that smuggle narcotics into the country from various parts of the world.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, praised the coordinated efforts of the NDLEA operatives, stressing that the agency’s proactive approach to intercepting drug consignments at various entry points across the nation is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking on all fronts. Babafemi also noted that the recent arrests and seizures reflect the growing sophistication of drug trafficking operations but also the effectiveness of NDLEA's intelligence and surveillance operations.

The agency remains focused on disrupting these criminal networks and preventing the spread of illegal narcotics, which continue to pose a significant threat to communities around the world.