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NDLEA uncovers drugs hidden in frozen snails, others bound for UK, US, DRC

Published

2 months ago

October 19, 2025

NDLEA uncovers drugs hidden in frozen snails, others bound for UK, US, DRC

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled several attempts to smuggle hard drugs cleverly concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs and women’s clothing, destined for the United States, the United Kingdom and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The operations, carried out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and a courier company in Lagos, led to the arrest of two suspects.

One of the suspects, cargo agent Boladale Riliwan, was apprehended on October 7 after NDLEA operatives discovered 15 parcels of skunk — a potent strain of cannabis — hidden inside 10 giant rechargeable bulbs meant for export to the DRC.

Five days later, on October 12, Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, a 48-year-old UK-based public health assistant, was intercepted at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a flight to Manchester. A search of her luggage revealed 2,300 tablets of tramadol (225mg) concealed in frozen snails.

A similar attempt was foiled on October 16 when 810 bromazepam tablets were discovered hidden inside women’s clothing intended for export to the United States.

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In a separate operation in Adamawa State, NDLEA officers arrested Bello Buba at a checkpoint in Yola South after finding 38,270 tramadol tablets concealed in the spare tyre, boot and door panels of his vehicle. The drugs were said to have been transported from the Benin Republic.

The agency also destroyed over 53,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on more than 21 hectares of farmland in Ekiti State. An additional 1,140 kilograms of cannabis were seized during operations in Ekiti and Ondo States, leading to multiple arrests of suspects aged between 20 and 27.

Further recoveries were made in Oyo, Ogun, Imo and Enugu States, where various suspects were caught with large quantities of skunk and opioids. In Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested a Mushin resident with 117 kilograms of skunk, while a joint operation with Customs at Apapa Port intercepted 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup imported from India.

Commending the officers, NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded their vigilance and professionalism, urging them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control — combining strict enforcement with public education.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which continues to sensitise schools, workplaces and communities nationwide on the dangers of illicit drug use.

NDLEA uncovers drugs hidden in frozen snails, others bound for UK, US, DRC

Related Topics:DRC frozen snails NDLEA UK US

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Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges

Published

58 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Trends Admin

former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige

Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gwarinpa has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in Kuje prison pending the hearing of his bail application.

Justice Maryam Hassan issued the order on Friday after Ngige pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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The former minister, who served from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, is being prosecuted for his alleged role in a N2.2 billion contract fraud. The charges include abuse of office and accusations that he received kickbacks from companies that secured contracts from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The court ruled that Ngige should remain in custody until Monday, when his bail application will be heard.

Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges

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Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon

Published

1 hour ago

December 12, 2025

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Maryam Sanda

Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reaffirmed the death sentence imposed on Maryam Sanda, daughter-in-law of a former PDP chairman, for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in 2017.

Sanda was convicted by an Abuja High Court on January 27, 2020, and sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of stabbing her husband to death at their Abuja residence. She had spent six years and eight months in Suleja prison before President Bola Tinubu reduced her punishment to 12 years under the recent presidential pardon initiative.

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According to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” and in the “best interest of the children,” noting Sanda’s good conduct, reformed behaviour, and remorse during incarceration.

However, in a split decision of four to one, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Friday overturned the executive intervention and reaffirmed the original death sentence. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The apex court upheld the earlier decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, describing them as sound and unassailable. It further held that President Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to issue a pardon in a homicide case that was still under judicial review.

Sanda’s appeal was dismissed for lacking merit, bringing a definitive close to one of Nigeria’s most widely followed murder conviction cases.

Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon

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Mother, 10-Month-Old Baby Murdered in Katsina Over Alleged Paternity Dispute

Published

5 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu

Mother, 10-Month-Old Baby Murdered in Katsina Over Alleged Paternity Dispute

A woman and her 10-month-old baby have been found murdered in Sheme village, Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina State, in what authorities believe was linked to a paternity dispute.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed that detectives are investigating the incident. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said 35-year-old Sahabi Rabi’u has been arrested in connection with the killings, while a second suspect remains at large.

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Aliyu explained: “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and admitted conspiring with a friend, now at large, to lure the victims to the outskirts of Sheme village, where they were killed. The bodies were burnt and thrown into a nearby well.”

Investigations revealed that the murder stemmed from a paternity disagreement, which escalated into a brutal killing. The bodies have been recovered, and the suspect is currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplice.

Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, condemned the killings as “barbaric and inhumane,” assuring that justice will be served. He appealed to members of the public to provide information that could assist in capturing the second suspect, with guarantees of confidentiality.