The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a previously convicted drug trafficker, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, alongside three cargo agents, over an attempt to export cocaine concealed in liquid starch sachets to the United Kingdom.
Operatives of the agency recovered 75 parcels of cocaine, weighing 1.50 kilogrammes, from factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said three cargo agents — Jubrin Hassana, Kuku Oluwasegun and Igwe Jane — were arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in connection with the intercepted consignment.
According to him, further investigations traced the shipment to 37-year-old Nwobodo, who was subsequently apprehended the following day at a relaxation centre in Ikeja.
The statement partly read, “A notorious drug trafficker, Nwobodo Basil, previously convicted of dealing in 30.10kg methamphetamine in 2023, has again been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA following the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilograms concealed in factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch heading to the United Kingdom at the export shed of the MMIA Ikeja, Lagos.
“Three cargo agents: Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun, and Igwe Chioma Jane, involved in the attempt to export the consignment to the UK, were swiftly arrested on Saturday, 20th December 2025, before further investigations unravelled 37-year-old Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil as the mastermind.
He was arrested in a follow-up operation on Sunday, 21st December at a popular relaxation centre in Ikeja, where he went on a date with his girlfriend.”
Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA records showed Nwobodo was earlier arrested in May 2023 over 30.10kg of methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers and bound for London.
He said the suspect was arraigned before a Federal High Court in charge number FHC/L/337C/2023, convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦7 million fine, alongside one month of community service, effective from December 4, 2023.
“He paid the fine and soon after returned to the same crime,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA spokesman also revealed that a 65-year-old driver was arrested in Gombe State with a large cache of controlled substances, while a businessman was picked up in Lagos over an earlier cannabis seizure at the Tincan Island Port.
“In Gombe state, a 65-year-old driver Sada’u Mohammed was arrested while conveying 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 27,900 pills of tramadol, and other opioids, along the Gombe-Biu highway, heading to Biu in Borno state.
“Meanwhile, a 47-year-old businessman Ignatius Egbochie (alias Brown) wanted in connection with the seizure of 56 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 26kg at the Tincan seaport in Lagos, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives.
“The illicit drug consignment was seized on 10th December during a joint examination of a container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies.
A follow-up operation by NDLEA operatives on 19th December led to the arrest of Ignatius in Apapa,” the statement said.
Babafemi further disclosed that NDLEA operatives, on Monday, December 22, destroyed tons of skunk and wooden warehouses in Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, where 638 kilogrammes of the substance were recovered.
He added that no fewer than 1,205 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 883.1kg, were recovered from three Toyota Camry vehicles intercepted along the Igara–Auchi Road in Edo State on the same day.
“In Cross River state, raid operations conducted on Sunday, 21st December at Agoi-Ibami community, Yakurr LGA, led to the arrest of three suspects and seizure of various quantities of skunk.
They include: Freedom Jonah Akpama, 27, with 671kg; David Itam David, 30, with 89kg; and Nelson Arikpo Osam, 26, with 148kg,” the statement added.
Recall that PUNCH Online had last Sunday reported the arrest of one Shodunke Simbiat, a fugitive member of a cocaine trafficking syndicate, accused of concealing illicit drugs in her children’s room.