Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered multiple attempts to smuggle illicit drugs through the Seme Border and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, leading to the arrest of three suspects in separate operations.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrests in a statement on Sunday, describing the cases as “unusual concealment methods” used by traffickers moving drugs locally and internationally.
According to the statement, a 35-year-old trader, Rabi Muhammad, was apprehended at the Seme crossing while attempting to travel to Cotonou in the Benin Republic.
NDLEA officers reportedly became suspicious after noticing her swollen stomach. A subsequent search revealed that the pregnancy was staged.
Babafemi said, “A detailed check exposed that the suspect had strapped a container designed to look like a baby bump to her abdomen. Inside it were 3,200 capsules of tramadol she intended to move across the border for sale.”
In another operation on the same day, NDLEA operatives at the Kano airport intercepted a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Michael Gohouri, during passenger clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight heading to Milan through Addis Ababa.
A body scan reportedly confirmed that the suspect had ingested illicit substances. He was placed under observation and later excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing about 1.49 kilograms.
Babafemi stated, “The suspect admitted he ingested the drugs in a hotel room before attempting to travel. He was to receive €5,000 upon successful delivery of the consignment in Milan.”
Investigations indicated that the man had travelled between Lagos, Enugu and Kano before the arrest and possessed both an Italian residence permit and a Nigerian identification record.
In a separate development, NDLEA operatives also arrested the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources, Kolapo Oladapo Raji, at his residence in Ikate, Lekki, Lagos.
The agency said the suspect had been under surveillance since 2025 following intelligence reports linking him to drug distribution networks.
Babafemi explained, “A search of his residence led to the recovery of four large bags containing parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 89.2 kilograms, as well as a 2024 Toyota Hilux vehicle.”
He added that the suspect allegedly confessed to financing earlier drug shipments for an overseas associate before establishing his own distribution channel after receiving substantial profits.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to tightening surveillance at border points, airports and within cities to disrupt trafficking networks and prosecute offenders.
