NDLEA Thwarts Cocaine Smuggling Attempt To UK As Drug Syndicate Hides Narcotics Inside Body Cream Containers

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a major cocaine smuggling attempt at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, unmasking a clever ploy by drug traffickers who concealed the illicit substance inside body cream containers. The agency’s operatives successfully uncovered 70 parcels of cocaine, weighing 3.60 kilograms, that were being prepared for export to the United Kingdom.

Authorities revealed that the drug-laden consignment was discovered on October 14, 2025, during a meticulous examination of cargoes labeled as personal effects on an Air Peace flight bound for London. The operation, which took place under heightened security surveillance, disrupted a well-coordinated attempt by a syndicate to push narcotics across international borders through deceptive packaging.

A cargo agent identified as Lawal Mustapha Olakunle was immediately arrested following the discovery. His apprehension triggered a deeper investigation that led NDLEA operatives to two additional suspects believed to be the masterminds of the illicit shipment. According to NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a follow-up operation was swiftly carried out on October 18, leading to the arrest of a female healthcare worker, Ogunmuyide Taiwo Deborah. Further intelligence gathering pointed investigators toward the alleged coordinator of the smuggling plan, Mutiu Adebayo Adebiyi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of a travel agency known as Mutiu Adebiyi & Co. He was apprehended at his office located at 23 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, on October 20.

The agency described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in its relentless campaign against drug trafficking networks that continue to exploit Nigeria’s airports and borders for illegal trade. NDLEA’s spokesperson emphasized that the discovery was not a stroke of luck but a direct result of enhanced intelligence coordination and proactive surveillance strategies implemented across major air terminals.

A separate interception also took place at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu, where NDLEA operatives foiled another attempt to smuggle hard drugs out of the country. This incident involved a 35-year-old Lesotho national, identified as Lemena Mark, who sought to export 103.59 grams of methamphetamine concealed inside a pack of diabeta herbs coffee tea. The attempt, which was to be executed through an Ethiopian Airlines flight to the Philippines, was halted on October 22, following the alertness of NDLEA officers stationed at the airport’s export section.

The arrest of the foreign suspect adds to the growing list of traffickers caught in the agency’s expanding web of anti-narcotics operations. The recovered substances have since been seized as exhibits, and investigations are ongoing to identify possible collaborators both locally and internationally.

Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the operatives of both MMIA Lagos and AIIA Enugu for their vigilance, precision, and professionalism in thwarting the smuggling attempts. He noted that the latest operations underscore the agency’s unyielding commitment to curbing the menace of drug trafficking while protecting Nigeria’s image on the global stage.

Marwa also highlighted that the NDLEA’s strategy rests on a balanced approach, combining rigorous enforcement with preventive measures aimed at education, rehabilitation, and community awareness. He reaffirmed that Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts are not only focused on arrests and seizures but also on dismantling the structural and financial frameworks that sustain drug syndicates.

Public reactions to the latest bust have been largely positive, with many Nigerians praising the agency for its persistence and intelligence-driven operations. Security analysts view these successes as evidence of NDLEA’s growing efficiency in countering international narcotics rings that use African air routes to traffic illicit substances.

Reports from NDLEA indicate that the arrested suspects are currently cooperating with investigators, and more arrests may follow as the agency tracks the transnational network involved in the foiled exportation. The body cream concealment technique, though not new, demonstrates the evolving methods traffickers employ to evade detection. However, officials have assured the public that new screening technologies and intelligence-sharing frameworks have significantly reduced the chances of such smuggling techniques succeeding.

Through continuous vigilance, strategic coordination, and international collaboration, NDLEA has positioned itself as one of Africa’s most proactive anti-drug agencies. Its recent achievements serve as a stern warning to traffickers that no disguise, however sophisticated, will stand the test of modern detection and intelligence systems.

The agency reiterated its commitment to intensifying surveillance at all ports of entry and exit across Nigeria, ensuring that every attempt to export or import illicit drugs meets a decisive end. As the investigation unfolds, Nigerians await further updates on the prosecution of the arrested suspects, a process that NDLEA vows will be thorough, transparent, and uncompromising in its pursuit of justice.