Authorities in Nigeria have disrupted several drug smuggling operations, including the arrest of a 48-year-old businessman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The suspect, apprehended during an outward screening for a flight to Paris, was found to have ingested 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine. The individual, who initially resisted a body scan citing health concerns, was taken into custody for further observation. Over the course of seven days, authorities recovered the concealed substances. The suspect, reportedly a trader from Lagos Island specializing in school and travel bags, claimed he was promised €3,000 for delivering the drugs to Paris. In a separate operation on Christmas Eve, officials from the agency’s Marine Command intercepted two boats carrying nearly two tons of high-grade cannabis, commonly referred to as “Ghanaian Loud,” at Eleko Beach in Lagos. Six foreign nationals—two Ghanaians and four Beninese—were arrested during the bust. In Katsina, two suspects were detained in connection with cannabis trafficking. One was found with 35 kilograms of compressed cannabis sativa at a motor park on Christmas Day, while the other was intercepted on the Zaria-Malumfashi road with 13.5 kilograms of the same substance. In Edo State, a raid in Benin City led to the arrest of a 21-year-old suspect in possession of over 32,000 tramadol pills, 936 bottles of codeine syrup, and other illicit opioids. The agency’s spokesperson highlighted the dual focus of enforcement operations and public awareness campaigns aimed at curbing drug abuse. The Chairman of the anti-narcotics body commended the officers for their efforts and urged them to intensify their fight against drug trafficking networks while maintaining robust advocacy in 2025. These successes underscore the agency’s resolve to combat drug-related crimes and protect communities nationwide.
Anti-Narcotics Agency Foils Multiple Drug Trafficking Attempts in Nigeria
