The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), arrested a 42-year-old Indian woman, Ms. Neetu Neetu, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) for attempting to smuggle 72 parcels of heroin disguised as chocolates.
The drugs, concealed in wafer wraps, weighed a total of 11kg.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, confirmed the interception in a statement issued on Sunday.
The heroin was found in Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search at the airport’s arrival hall on March 14, 2025, during the clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), condemned the increasing use of foreign nationals, including women, by drug cartels to traffic narcotics through Nigerian borders.
He remarked, “This growing tactic by drug trafficking organisations has consistently been frustrated by our vigilant officers with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence.”
In separate operations, NDLEA operatives made significant drug seizures across Kano and Lagos states.
On March 20, 2025, in Kano, 45-year-old Michael Ogundele was arrested with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder along the Zaria-Kano road.
Upon inspection, 50,000 tramadol 225mg pills were recovered from the cylinder.
Additionally, 40-year-old Sunday Ogar was apprehended in Gunduwawa, Kano, on March 19 with 27kg of skunk, a potent form of cannabis.
On March 18, Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was arrested in Lungun Bulala Yalwa, Kano, with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa in Mushin, seizing 67.5kg of skunk.
Another 100.8kg of the same substance was recovered from the store of two suspects who fled in Anifowoshe, Mushin.
On the same day, Isah Idris was detained in Apapa with 4.5kg of skunk, 600 grams of tramadol, and 30 litres of codeine syrup.
In Ikotun, Lagos, Yahaya Mohamed was apprehended with quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA has been proactive in raising awareness about drug abuse across the country.
Recent campaigns have included sensitisation programs at schools, markets, workplaces, and religious centres.
Locations for these activities include Chrisland School in Ikeja, Lagos, Hakimi Secondary School in Mokwa, Niger State, and Government Day Secondary School in Jada, Adamawa State, among others.
Brigadier General Marwa praised the NDLEA officers in Kano, Lagos, and MAKIA for their continuous dedication.
He emphasized the agency’s dual focus on both drug supply and demand reduction, urging operatives to maintain a balanced and sustained fight against drug abuse and trafficking nationwide.
