NDLEA arrests South African woman with 36.65kg cocaine in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested a 34-year-old South African woman with 36.65 kilograms of cocaine at Lagos airport and a 62-year-old Nigerian-American grandmother carrying 9.45 kilograms of high-grade cannabis imported from the United States, alongside sweeping nationwide raids.

The anti-narcotics agency announced multiple coordinated operations on Sunday, highlighting major interceptions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and across several states (The Guardian Nigeria News).

The NDLEA has arrested a South African woman and a US based grandmother over alleged cocaine trafficking, while also apprehending a physically challenged woman in Delta State. The agency also recovered large consignments of illicit drugs during coordinated raids across Kano,… pic.twitter.com/4WMA5cReZw

— https://x.com/vanguardngrnews/status/2114300521506890051

Airport Interceptions of Cocaine and High-Grade Cannabis

Anti-narcotics officers intercepted Qhina Beauty at the departure hall as she attempted to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa via Doha. A search of her two travel bags uncovered thirty blocks of cocaine (Punch Newspapers).

laced with dried pepper, wrapped in cello tape and packed into seven separate parcels.

Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, via Punch Newspapers

During questioning, Qhina stated that she arrived in Nigeria on September 30 to collect the consignment after another South African woman recruited her with the promise of R20,000 upon successful delivery (The Guardian Nigeria News). Subsequent investigations led officers to track down a Lagos-based car dealer, Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, on October 14 at Apple Junction, Ago Palace Way (Therealmediang). According to investigators, Umunnakwe confessed to picking up Qhina at the airport, housing her at the Santiago Hotel located in Amuwo-Odofin, and subsequently transferring her to the Cynarisso Hotel close to the airport prior to her scheduled flight (Punch Newspapers).

NDLEA arrests South African woman with 36.65kg cocaine in Lagos — Photo: Punch Newspapers

Weeks later on October 21, 2026, officers at the same Lagos airport intercepted Anetor Gloria Ubong, a 62-year-old realtor based in Richmond, Texas, who holds both Nigerian and United States passports (Vanguardngr). She arrived on a United Airlines flight from Houston (Vanguardngr).

A search of her two checked-in boxes uncovered 18 parcels of loud, a synthetic cannabis weighing 9.45kg, concealed with gift wrapping paper in a box. She claimed the box was delivered to her home in the US by her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law, for onward delivery in Nigeria to her daughter’s fiancé, Jibola.

Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, via Punch Newspapers

Nationwide Drug Seizures Across States

Beyond the airport arrests, federal operatives executed coordinated raids across Kano, Lagos, Bauchi, Niger, Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Oyo, and Delta states (The Guardian Nigeria News). Operating in Eti-Osa on October 23, Lagos agents seized 5,820 diazepam pills, 780 tramadol tablets, 3.7kg of skunk, and 230.25 litres of skuchies from 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat. In Delta State, authorities in Warri apprehended 51-year-old Peter Ugochukwu, seizing a massive stockpile of pharmaceutical opioids that featured 29,350 tramadol capsules, 6,620 tablets of 200mg tramadol, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 Rohypnol tablets, 3,500 diazepam tablets, 300 pentazocine injection ampoules, 200 diazepam injection ampoules, plus additional amounts of tramadol 225mg, Molly, and Cocodamol. In Ibadan, Oyo State, operatives arrested 41-year-old Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi on October 19 following an earlier escape (The Guardian Nigeria News).

Flash news: The NDLEA has arrested a 34-year-old South African woman, Qhina Beauty, with 36.65 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to South Africa. pic.twitter.com/Rb9Jg9Bk87

— https://x.com/NigeriaStories/status/2114315968499626495

A 41-year-old suspect, Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi, was arrested on Monday, 19th October in Adamasingba, Ibadan, following his initial escape from arrest when NDLEA officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis sativa from his house on 16th September.

Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, via Vanguardngr

In Niger State, Emmanuel Ekene, 26, was intercepted along the Sabo-Kainji Road in Borgu Local Government Area on October 19 with 64,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam (The Guardian Nigeria News). In Bauchi State, Jamilu Mustapha, also known as Last Card, was arrested on October 21 in Nasaru town, Ningi Local Government Area, with 379kg of cannabis packed in seven jumbo sacks (The Guardian Nigeria News).

Ongoing Operations and Official Response

Alongside enforcement actions, regional commands maintained War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns across schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities (The Guardian Nigeria News). Agency leadership commended personnel across the affected commands for their vigilance and urged them to maintain pressure against drug trafficking networks (Vanguardngr).