Lagos, Nigeria – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 50-year-old widow and fashion designer, Mrs. Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, for attempting to traffic 1.3 kilograms of cocaine disguised as a pregnancy.
Ezewuike, owner of Golden Star Creation on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, was intercepted at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, on Friday, August 22, while en route to deliver the illicit consignment to clients in Abuja.
A follow-up search of her residence led to the recovery of 200 grams of a cutting agent commonly used in cocaine processing. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to inheriting the drug trade from her late husband.
The arrest is part of an intensified nationwide anti-drug operation by the NDLEA targeting trafficking networks, illegal plantations, and urban distribution cells.
Nationwide Crackdown Yields Massive Seizures
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives also seized 90 parcels of Loud cannabis, weighing 48.6kg, concealed in three cartons of imported kitchen sinks from the United States.
In Abuja, two dispatch riders were apprehended in the Jabi area while distributing illicit substances within the Federal Capital Territory.
In Kano, a significant haul of 452,070 opioid pills was recovered from the residence of a suspect who is currently on the run. Several others were arrested in possession of codeine syrup, tramadol, and pregabalin capsules.
In Adamawa, a raid on the home of a known drug dealer led to the recovery of 354,480 tramadol pills and the seizure of two vehicles believed to be used for drug distribution.
Major Cannabis Plantations Destroyed
In coordinated operations across Delta, Ondo, Edo, and Taraba States — supported by military and civil defence personnel — NDLEA teams destroyed more than 75,000 kilograms of cannabis (skunk) cultivated on plantations spanning over 25 hectares.
Marwa Commends Officers’ Efforts
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), lauded the agency’s operatives for their diligence and courage. He urged officers to sustain the agency’s balanced approach in the ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), which combines enforcement with prevention, rehabilitation, and public education.
“The agency’s operations are yielding results, but the fight must continue on all fronts — from arrests to awareness,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to dismantling drug networks and safeguarding Nigerian communities from the scourge of illicit drug abuse and trafficking.
