NDLEA Intercepts Chinese National, Others in Nationwide Drug Crackdown, Seizes ₦2.19bn Opioids at Lagos Airport
Lead: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a series of nationwide drug interceptions, including the arrest of a 63-year-old Chinese national at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and the seizure of opioids valued at over ₦2.1 billion imported from India, as part of intensified anti-narcotics operations across Nigeria.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
At the Lagos airport, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested a 63-year-old Chinese woman, Ting Hung Kiong, who reportedly attempted to smuggle 31 kilograms of “Canadian Loud,” a synthetic strain of cannabis, into the country. She was intercepted at the Terminal 2 Arrival Hall of MMIA on May 17, 2026, after arriving from Thailand via Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight.
The suspect, who is said to have naturalised in Malaysia, allegedly told investigators she was recruited during a trip arranged through Malaysia and Thailand, where she was handed the illicit consignment before traveling to Nigeria.
In a separate operation at the Lagos airport import shed, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service, intercepted 29 cartons containing about 1.8 million tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at approximately ₦2.19 billion. The shipment, which originated from India, had been placed under surveillance before its eventual handover to NDLEA officials.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a 29-year-old engineer, Babatunde Prosper Afekhide, was arrested while attempting to board a flight to Italy via Addis Ababa. A search of his luggage reportedly uncovered over 10,000 tablets of opioids, including Tramadol and Tapentadol, concealed to evade detection.
Similarly, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, operatives arrested Onyeka Valentine Emeka, who was found to have ingested cocaine pellets. The suspect excreted 185.36 grams of the drug while under observation.
The agency also reported multiple interceptions across courier services and border communities, including seizures of MDMA pills bound for Europe and North America, and large quantities of cannabis recovered in Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Kano, and other states during coordinated raids.
In Edo State, operatives recovered 489 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds following an intelligence-led operation, while in Ekiti, a warehouse raid led to the seizure of over 1,100 kilograms of cannabis with one suspect arrested.
Across various commands, the NDLEA said its “War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)” sensitisation campaigns continued in schools, worship centres, and communities as part of efforts to reduce drug demand alongside enforcement actions.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the operations, urging sustained efforts in both supply reduction and public sensitisation campaigns nationwide.
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