Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, in a statement on Sunday, said the substances were seized on Thursday by operatives of the directorate of operations and general investigation (DOGI) at a courier company in Lagos.

Babafemi said 420 grams of cocaine were factory-fitted into 84 pieces of lipstick heading to the UK, while 280 grams were hidden in a certificate of occupancy (C of O) being shipped to Saudi Arabia.

In a separate operation, Babafemi said Ajetsibo Emami, a notorious drug kingpin, popularly known as Warri Kinsman, was arrested in Lagos on June 28 after a three-day operation that dismantled his drug trafficking network.

According to NDLEA, the raid led to the arrest of three other suspects and the seizure of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian loud — a synthetic strain of cannabis — weighing 414.2kg.

The NDLEA official added that operatives also uncovered a family-run drug syndicate in Lagos involving a businessman identified as Ajah Uchenna; Rosemary, his wife; Stella and Ngozi, their daughters; and Okoro Elijah, a family friend.

Babafemi said the couple was first arrested by DSS operatives on June 13 in the Ojo area of Lagos and handed over to the NDLEA with 277.5kg of skunk.

However, while in custody, fresh intelligence revealed that their daughters and family friend had continued operations from their home.

He noted that a follow-up raid on July 1 led to the arrest of the three and the recovery of 231kg of skunk from their residence and a nearby packing store.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, operatives intercepted 7,660 pills of tramadol (225mg and 200mg) hidden inside food items packed by a frequent flyer, Aburemi Hysent, en route to Italy.

He reportedly told investigators he was promised €800 for successful delivery.

Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA agents on July 4 intercepted 52 travellers’ cheques, worth AU$17.7 million, concealed in children’s books on a Turkish Airlines flight bound for Malaysia via Istanbul.

The NDLEA spokesperson said Bolarinwa Saheed, a freight agent, was arrested and is being transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

The agency ramped up its crackdown on illicit drug activities with multiple raids across the country, leading to significant seizures and arrests.

In Lagos, operatives at the Seme border recovered 718 compressed balls of skunk weighing 359kg from a store in the Baba-Pupa area of the border community.

In Kogi, a follow-up operation led to the seizure of 10,000 pills of tramadol and 1.05kg of Colorado. The suspects were traced and apprehended at Jabi Park in Abuja.

The agency said Osun state witnessed some of the most extensive operations last week. A total of 62,106 pills and ampoules of opioids were recovered during raids in Osogbo and Ile-Ife.

In a major bust, NDLEA operatives also destroyed 24,175kg of skunk cultivated on 9.67 hectares of farmland in the Ikaka area of Oke-Ila forest. Seven suspects were arrested during the forest raid.

In Borno, 167kg of skunk was seized in Gamboru-Ngala, a border town near Cameroon.

In Kano, 452kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered at Gadar Tamburawa, along the Zaria-Kano highway. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the shipment.

Along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway, operatives intercepted Sule Ibrahim Sadiq, 30, who was in possession of 11,000 pills of tramadol.

In Sokoto, a 62-year-old man, Joseph Onungene, was arrested after he was caught with 4,800 tramadol pills.

The agency also reported a successful raid in Kebbi state, where 312kg of skunk and 10,000 tablets of diazepam were seized at Bakin Kasuwa in Yauri.

In Taraba, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects in Ardo-Kola local government area and recovered 49,930 tramadol capsules.

A wanted suspect, Alaba Monday, was arrested in Edo state during a raid on his cannabis farm in Ewere forest, Owan West LGA. He was found with 115kg of processed skunk. Three additional suspects were arrested at another farm measuring 2.05 hectares.

In Cross River, operatives arrested 78-year-old Mike Abeng during a raid in Ofudua, Obubra LGA. He was caught with 14.49kg of skunk and tramadol. Others apprehended during the operation include Oyom Akam, 50; Sylvester Odem, 40; and Moses Ayo, 50 — all arrested in Ovonum, also in Obubra.

Babafemi added that the agency’s nationwide operations are part of efforts to “strike a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction” under the war against drug abuse (WADA) campaign.

He said the agency continued its campaign with sensitisation lectures delivered to students and residents in Enugu, Lagos, Katsina and Borno states.

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended officers across various commands for their commitment to drug supply reduction and public education efforts.