By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted cocaine concealed in a local mortar and in the false bottom of a backpack meant for export to China and Italy.
According to a statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizures were made on Thursday, 30th July 2026 by officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations in Lagos.
The statement said 250grams of cocaine was hidden in the base of a mortar packed in a carton and meant for China, while 500grams was found in the false bottom of a backpack bound for Italy.
The Agency also reported arrests and recoveries in five states.
In Rivers, a 38-year-old drug dealer, Ugo Gift Okonkwo, was arrested in Port Harcourt on 26th July with cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, swinol, tramadol and codeine syrup.
In Anambra, a truck driver, Chinedu Nwanze, 40, was arrested on 27th July at Onitsha with 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 3,960kg.
In Delta, 331.84kg of skunk was recovered from a Toyota Sienna bus on 26th July.
In Nasarawa, 64-year-old Joseph Nwaeke was arrested on 28th July with 68kg of skunk and 29grams of methamphetamine.
In Zamfara, Sani Umar, 27, was intercepted on 27th July with 7,400 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), NDLEA Chairman, commended the officers and said the Agency will continue its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization in schools, worship centres and communities nationwide.
