Lagos/Ilorin, June 23, 2025 – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully arrested a 43‑year‑old makeup artist and a 22‑year‑old polytechnic student in separate drug busts, seizing a combined total of 3.2 kg of illicit substances.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA agents arrested Adekoya Adebukonla Mary as she attempted to board a flight to India via Doha on Monday, June 16. Under the guise of seeking fibroid surgery, Mary was carrying 2.20 kg of cocaine expertly concealed in the walls of her suitcase .
During interrogation, Mary admitted that she was recruited and funded by a drug baron, identified as Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who allegedly owns Rockford Hotel in Ogun State and resides in Ikorodu, Lagos .
Meanwhile, on Thursday, June 19, NDLEA operatives in Ilorin arrested Olotin Nifemi, a 22‑year‑old student of Kwara State Polytechnic, along Kwara Poly Road. She was found to be in possession of 1 kg of skunk (a strain of cannabis) and was identified as a notorious dealer supplying illicit drugs to fellow students .
The arrests form part of a broader operation by the NDLEA’s Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI), which included multiple seizures across the country. In Lagos, 1.3 kg of “Loud” cannabis was intercepted inside sewn female dresses bound for Bahrain, while 850 g of cocaine was found concealed in cloth hangers destined for Australia .
These recent successes come amid a nationwide clampdown on drug trafficking networks. NDLEA Chairman Brig‑Gen. Buba Marwa (ret’d) commended participating officers and reiterated the agency’s commitment to its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign .
The arrested individuals will be prosecuted under Nigeria’s stringent anti-narcotics laws, while investigations continue to dismantle the criminal syndicates involved. The NDLEA urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to help stem the tide of drug proliferation.
