Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have thwarted fresh attempts to traffic illicit substances through the Seme border in Lagos and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, arresting a woman who hid drugs in a fabricated pregnancy and a real estate executive alleged to be a key player in a narcotics network.
At the Seme land border on February 16, 2026, anti-narcotics officers apprehended a 35-year-old Kano-based trader, Rabi Muhammad, while she was attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Although she appeared heavily pregnant, a detailed search reportedly revealed that the pregnancy was staged.
Officers discovered 3,200 capsules of tramadol concealed inside an artificial bump strapped to her abdomen.
On the same day, operatives at the Kano airport arrested a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Michael Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, during clearance for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 bound for Milan via Addis Ababa.
A body scan confirmed he had ingested prohibited drugs. While under observation, he expelled 82 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes.
He was reportedly to receive €5,000 upon successful delivery of the consignment in Milan. Investigations indicated that he had travelled across Lagos, Enugu and Kano before ingesting the drugs in a hotel room in Kano.
In a related operation, NDLEA officers arrested the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources, Kolapo Oladapo Raji, 57, at his Ikate, Lekki residence in Lagos on February 12, following weeks of surveillance.
The suspect had allegedly been under the agency’s watchlist since 2025.
A search of his residence led to the recovery of four large sacks containing 89.2 kilogrammes of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, as well as a 2024 Toyota Hilux vehicle.
He was said to have confessed to previously bankrolling drug shipments before setting up his own distribution channel.
The agency disclosed that additional operations across Lagos, Rivers, Kogi, Ondo, Bauchi, Delta and Edo states resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of skunk and tramadol.
Officers also intercepted 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup during a joint inspection of a container at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers for the successful operations, reiterating the agency’s resolve to intensify its drug supply and demand reduction strategies nationwide under its War Against Drug Abuse advocacy campaign in schools and communities.
