NDLEA intercepts cocaine hidden in food flasks at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has once again demonstrated its vigilance with significant seizures of illicit drugs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Operatives successfully intercepted substantial quantities of cocaine and cannabis, thwarting attempts to smuggle these substances out of Nigeria.

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Operatives intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airlines flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The first major bust involved 12 large parcels of cocaine, weighing 2.80 kilograms, ingeniously concealed within the false bottoms of food flasks. These were bound for the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight. The swift action by NDLEA operatives led to the arrest of two cargo agents involved in the export, Ama Obinna Ufeim and Ogabi Monday Akorede. Further investigation identified Agoro Moninuola, a 52-year-old freight forwarder, as the sender of the illicit consignment.

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The cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday, 9th April 2026, by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport, while two cargo agents involved in the export bid, Ama Ufeim (33) and Ogabi Monday Akorede (39), were swiftly arrested.

In a separate operation at the airport's import shed, NDLEA operatives intercepted 2.90 kilograms of "Loud," a potent strain of cannabis, hidden within snack food packs. This consignment had arrived from the United States aboard a Delta Air Lines flight. Two cargo clearing agents were initially arrested, followed by the apprehension of the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, during a follow-up operation in Lagos.

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Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, as the sender of the consignment, and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.

These interceptions highlight the persistent challenges faced by Nigerian authorities in combating drug trafficking. The methods employed by traffickers, such as concealing drugs in everyday items like food flasks and snack packs, underscore the need for continuous innovation in detection and enforcement. The NDLEA's success in these operations, including follow-up arrests, reflects a determined effort to dismantle drug smuggling networks operating through Nigeria's international gateways. The agency's ongoing crackdown extends beyond Lagos, with recent operations in Kaduna and Cross River states also yielding significant drug seizures and arrests, indicating a nationwide commitment to tackling the drug menace.

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Operatives intercepted 2.90 kilograms of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in snack food packs.