Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 43-year-old make-up artist, Mary Adebukonla Adekoya, for attempting to smuggle 2.20 kilogrammes of cocaine to India under the pretext of travelling for fibroid surgery.

Adekoya was apprehended on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

The cocaine, factory-fitted into the walls of her bag, was discovered during surveillance. She was allowed to check in her luggage and arrested at the boarding gate for her Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.

In her statement, Adekoya confessed to undertaking the trip for financial gains. Investigations revealed she was recruited by a drug baron, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who is at large. Adekanbi reportedly owns Rockford Hotel in Sango, Ogun State, and resides in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos.

At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a shipment of sewn female dresses containing 1.3kg of Loud, a strong cannabis strain, destined for Bahrain on Thursday, June 19. A day earlier, 850 grammes of cocaine concealed in clothes hangers and heading to Australia were uncovered at another courier firm.

In Bauchi, officers arrested Ibrahim Galadima, 37, and Ibrahim Muhammed, 28, on Monday, June 16, along the Bauchi-Darazo road, recovering over one million opioid pills, including tramadol and diazepam. On Tuesday, June 17, Bishir Isyaku, 38, was arrested at Gwargwaje along Kaduna-Zaria Expressway with 14.2kg of skunk concealed in charcoal sacks.

In Abuja, raids on Karu Abattoir and Torabora areas on Wednesday, June 18, led to the arrest of Murtala Adamu, Ahmed Isma’il, and four others. Recovered items included 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grammes of methamphetamine.

Similarly, Kano officers intercepted multiple suspects and illicit substances on Zaria-Kano and Jaba roads between June 19 and June 21. Arrests included Umar Hamisu, 19, and Dahiru Abdullahi, 32, with 56.2kg of skunk, and Obiwuru Henry, 27, with tramadol capsules and pentazocine ampoules.

In Ilorin, NDLEA arrested 22-year-old Olotin Nifemi, a student of Kwara State Polytechnic, notorious for selling drugs to students. She was caught with 1kg of skunk along Kwara Poly road on Thursday, June 19.

In Edo State, a raid on Ugbada camp in Uzebba forest on Friday, June 20, resulted in the destruction of 4,226.11kg of skunk. Albert Shamaki, 33, was arrested during the operation. On the same day, operatives raided Big Jamaya Supermarket in Emado, Esan West Council, arresting Esther Abumere, 28, and recovering illicit drugs. Another operation at Idumeka Igueben led to the arrest of Eko Gift, 38, and the seizure of 1.143kg of skunk.