Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted two boats carrying 1,960 kilograms of cannabis, commonly known as “Ghanaian Loud,” at Eleko Beach, Lekki, Lagos, in a midnight operation on Christmas Eve.
The agency confirmed the arrest of six foreign nationals involved in the illicit trade. Among them are two Ghanaians, Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33), and four Beninese nationals: Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21).
According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the cannabis was smuggled into Nigeria via waterways from Ghana.
“At 2:30 am on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, operatives of the Marine Command of the NDLEA intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud at Eleko Beach in Lekki, Lagos. Six foreign nationals who brought the consignments from Ghana were arrested during the operation,” Babafemi stated.
Additional Arrests and Drug Seizures
In a separate operation at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Arthur, was apprehended while attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris on December 22. Arthur reportedly avoided a body scan during passenger clearance, citing medical reasons.
Upon being taken into custody for excretion observation, Arthur excreted 74 wraps of Class A drugs over seven days. Babafemi revealed that Arthur, who owns a shop in Lagos Island’s Balogun market, claimed he was offered €3,000 to deliver the drugs in Paris.
“He left Lagos for Abuja to connect his flight, hoping to evade detection,” Babafemi said.
In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects in separate operations for possessing compressed cannabis sativa.
- Ibrahim Shaibu (35): Apprehended with 40 parcels of compressed cannabis weighing 35kg on Christmas Day at the Central Motor Park, Katsina.
- Umar Ahmed (47): Nabbed along the Zaria-Malumfashi Road with 27 parcels of cannabis weighing 13.5kg on December 28.
Raids in Edo State
On December 23, a raid in Benin City, Edo State, led to the arrest of 21-year-old Kosisochukwu Ozigbo. Recovered items included 32,490 pills of tramadol (225mg, 200mg, and 100mg), 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and various quantities of other opioids.
The NDLEA continues its crackdown on drug trafficking and illegal drug operations across Nigeria, with Babafemi urging the public to provide actionable intelligence to support the agency’s efforts.
