By Deborah Nnamdi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 43-year-old makeup artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 2.2 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the walls of her suitcase.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi announced the arrest on Sunday, stating that the suspect was apprehended on Monday, June 16, 2025, while boarding a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha. Adekoya had claimed she was traveling for fibroid surgery but later admitted she was recruited for drug trafficking under the guise of a medical trip.
Investigations revealed that she was allegedly sponsored by a drug kingpin, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, owner of Rockford Hotel in Sango, Ogun State, who resides in Igbe Laara, Ikorodu, Lagos.
In related operations, NDLEA operatives intercepted a shipment of female dresses laced with 1.3kg of Loud (a potent cannabis strain) en route to Bahrain and 850 grams of cocaine hidden in cloth hangers headed for Australia.
Other significant arrests and seizures during the week include two men in Bauchi who were caught with over 1 million opioid pills, a Kaduna suspect was caught with 14.2kg skunk and 198kg of rubber solution, and six were arrested in Abuja with 6.9kg of skunk and 59g of methamphetamine.
Others include multiple arrests in Kano involving skunk, tramadol, and pentazocine. A 22-year-old student in Kwara was caught with 1kg of skunk, and over 4.2 tons of skunk were destroyed in Edo State, with arrests made at two illegal drug outlets.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across the country for their continued success in both drug supply and demand reduction efforts.
