The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a series of significant drug interdictions and arrests across Nigeria, highlighted by the apprehension of a 50-year-old widow and fashion designer who attempted to traffic cocaine using a fake pregnancy.

Mrs. Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, a mother of one and proprietress of Golden Star Creation, a fashion outfit in Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday, August 22, 2025. She was intercepted at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos, attempting to move a consignment of 1.3 kilograms of cocaine to customers in Abuja. Ezewuike notably employed a fake pregnancy as a façade to evade scrutiny and detection. Following her arrest, a search operation at her residence in the Ago Palace area led to the recovery of 200 grams of a cutting agent, commonly used in the production of a strain of cocaine. During interrogation, Ezewuike claimed she inherited the criminal trade from her husband, who had died two years prior, despite having been in the fashion business for two decades. The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed these details in a statement on Sunday.

In addition to Ezewuike's arrest, the NDLEA carried out numerous operations nationwide, resulting in substantial seizures of illicit substances and the apprehension of several suspects.

In Lagos, on Tuesday, August 19, NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted no less than 90 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg. These drugs were imported from the United States of America and cleverly concealed in three cartons of kitchen sink at a courier company.

Adamawa State saw NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raid the home of notorious drug dealer Idris Garba on Friday, August 22. Garba managed to escape by scaling a fence, but his associate, Boniface Nnaji, 55, was apprehended while attempting a similar escape in the Rumde Baru area of Yola South. Recovered from the premises were a black Toyota Tundra jeep (FST-885-CZ) used by Nnaji to supply Garba with 354,480 pills of various strengths of tramadol (225mg, 250mg, and others), along with a Toyota Yaris car (DSA 776 AA). Separately, 65.8kg of cannabis was recovered from a suspect in Girei Local Government Area.

Kogi State operations on Wednesday, August 20, led to the seizure of 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection from Neche Okonkwo at Idah waterside. Okonkwo had crossed the River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra state, with the opioids. Separately, officers dismantled a syndicate supplying codeine syrup and tramadol to students in Lokoja, arresting three suspects and recovering 2,100 bottles of codeine syrup and 1,450 capsules of tramadol.

Kano State recorded multiple arrests and seizures. On Tuesday, August 19, Buhari Ibrahim, 25, and Mansur Musa, 24, were nabbed in Zangon Dakata Ungogo with 5,850 capsules of pregabaline. On the same day, 452,070 pills of opioids were recovered from the home of Rabilu Mukhtar (at large) in Rangaza, Ungogo LGA, and Buhari Idris, 35, was arrested in Tashan Rami with 140 litres of codeine syrup. Later, on Saturday, August 23, Adamu Yusuf, 29, was caught with 7,000 capsules of tramadol along the Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora area. Further arrests included Usman Sani, 31, and Hamisu Ibrahim, 27, caught in Fagge and Kumbotso areas respectively, with a combined 1.67kg of tramadol, codeine, and rohypnol.

Kwara State witnessed three major interdiction operations, resulting in the interception of 2,289.49 kilograms of skunk. On Wednesday, August 20, 1,232.86kg of skunk was recovered from a Mitsubishi Canter truck (ZUR 66 XT) at Ajase-Ipo, leading to the arrest of Kabiru Abdullahi. The same day, 328.42kg of skunk was seized from Paul Olaniran, 47, in a Mercedes Benz truck (LSD 659 YE) at the same location. The following day, Thursday, August 21, another 728.21kg of skunk was intercepted in a Mitsubishi Canter truck (GAD 287 XA) at Ajase-Ipo junction, Ifelodun LGA, with Abubakar Zaki, 44, and Yau Babangida, 45, arrested. Additionally, a bus conveying 57.2kg of cannabis was intercepted along the Ilorin–Jebba road, while another suspect was arrested in Ilorin with 3.5kg of the same substance.

In Ekiti State, Awe Sunday, 50, and Ayodele Adedayo, 54, were apprehended at Alafia Quarters, Ikere-Ekiti, in connection with the seizure of 96 kilograms of skunk. A separate raid on a farm in Oye Local Government Area yielded 35kg of cannabis.

Taraba State saw NDLEA operatives, in conjunction with Civil Defence Corps personnel, destroy 7,500kg of skunk on three hectares of farmland at Dadin Kowa village, Bali LGA, on Wednesday, August 20. Earlier, 73.4kg of cannabis, 4,100 tablets of diazepam, and 16 bottles of codeine were recovered from a warehouse in Jalingo.

Edo State recorded the destruction of 14,233.37 kilograms of skunk across four plantations covering 5.69375 hectares at Ebule forest, Owan West Local Government Area, on Wednesday, August 20. Also, 901kg of skunk was recovered from a warehouse at Uzebba in Owan West LGA, where Fodo Stella Sunday, 54, was arrested on Tuesday, August 19. Three additional suspects were arrested in Irrua with 62kg of cannabis.

Delta State operations, supported by the military on Thursday, August 21, led to the destruction of 25,500kg of skunk on four plantations measuring 10.2 hectares in Emu-Obiogu community, Ndokwa West LGA. Separately, a hideout in Ughelli was stormed, seizing 84.3kg of cannabis and 12 bottles of codeine.

In Ondo State, 25,025kg of skunk was destroyed on three farms spanning 10.01 hectares at Asolo camp, Uso area. An additional 80kg of cannabis was intercepted in Akure.

Finally, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Thursday, August 21, NDLEA officers arrested two dispatch riders during a stop-and-search operation in Jabi for distributing illicit substances. Garba Sule, 29, was caught with 300 milligrams of pentazocine injection, while Isaac Augustine, 35, was apprehended with 8.64 grams of skunk packaged for delivery.

Reacting to these developments, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Delta, Adamawa, FCT, Ondo, Ekiti, and Edo Commands for their arrests, seizures, and dexterity. Marwa reiterated that the agency would not relent in its balanced approach to drug control efforts across the country.