July 6, 2025 | Lagos, Nigeria
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a sophisticated drug trafficking attempt involving concealed cocaine in lipsticks and fake property title documents destined for Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that the operation was conducted by operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, who intercepted suspicious packages during routine cargo inspections.
According to the agency, the cocaine, weighing several grams, was expertly embedded in tubes of lipstick and within the folds of counterfeit property documents, making detection extremely difficult without detailed examination.
The drugs were uncovered during screening of consignments at the airport’s cargo section. Intelligence reports had earlier hinted at efforts by a drug trafficking network to smuggle narcotics using unconventional concealment methods.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the diligence and professionalism of the operatives, stating that the agency remains resolute in its fight against drug trafficking both locally and across Nigeria’s borders.
“This interception is a warning to drug cartels that Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for their illicit trade,” Marwa said.
He reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance and assured the public that investigations are ongoing to track down and prosecute all individuals connected to the failed drug export.
The latest bust adds to a series of recent high-profile interdictions, reflecting the NDLEA’s growing use of intelligence-led operations and advanced scanning techniques to counter narcotics trafficking.
