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Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered shocking drug trafficking plots involving a woman who faked pregnancy to smuggle opioids and an Ivorian national who excreted 82 wraps of cocaine at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The dramatic interceptions were part of sweeping nationwide operations that also led to the arrest of a prominent real estate chief executive allegedly heading a drug cartel, a 68-year-old grandmother, and several other suspects across Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Delta and Kogi states.
Fake Pregnancy Scam Exposed at Seme
At the Seme land border in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 35-year-old Kano-based businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, on Monday, February 16, 2026, as she attempted to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Her protruding stomach raised suspicion. A thorough search revealed the bizarre truth: her “pregnancy” was fake. Officers discovered a pink-coloured calabash strapped to her abdomen, concealing 3,200 capsules of tramadol intended for sale abroad.
Airport Drama: 82 Cocaine Wraps Recovered
On the same day in Kano, NDLEA operatives intercepted 41-year-old Ivorian, Michael Gohouri (alias Anunwa Onyinye Michael), during outward clearance for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan via Addis Ababa.
A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances. Under observation, he excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49kg.
Investigations revealed he had arrived Lagos from Milan in January, shuttled between Lagos and Enugu for weeks, and later travelled to Kano where he ingested the cocaine in a hotel room. He reportedly stood to earn €5,000 upon successful delivery in Italy.
Real Estate CEO on NDLEA Watchlist Arrested
In a major breakthrough, NDLEA operatives arrested Mr. Kolapo Oladapo Raji, Chairman/CEO of Trans Fortress Global Resources, at his Ikate, Lekki residence on February 12, 2026.
Raji, who had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025, was apprehended shortly after returning from the United Kingdom. A search of his apartment led to the recovery of four large bags containing 89.2kg of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, as well as a 2024 Toyota Hilux.
In his statement, he admitted venturing into the illicit trade after financing drug consignments for an overseas associate, claiming profits running into hundreds of millions of naira motivated him to establish his own distribution network.
The agency’s crackdown extended nationwide:
56kg and 76kg of skunk seized from suspects in Agbara and Oshodi, Lagos.
170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup intercepted at Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, following intelligence-led 100% container examination.
7,300 tramadol pills hidden in sound systems recovered along Okene/Lokoja highway, with follow-up arrests in Abuja.
195kg and 198kg of skunk seized in Ondo forests.
936kg and additional 85.8kg of skunk recovered in Bauchi.
37kg seized in Delta.
Over 1,266kg destroyed on cannabis farms in Edo, where a 68-year-old grandmother and another suspect were arrested.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across commands for the arrests and seizures, praising their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign nationwide.
From airports and borders to forests and ports, NDLEA’s latest operations send a clear warning: no disguise, no status, and no network is beyond the long arm of the law.
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