In a bold move, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) thwarted 26-year-old nursing student Esther Uzodinma’s drug attempt.
She tried to swallow 76 wraps of cocaine just hours before her scheduled flight back to India.
This incident occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) as she prepared for her return to Noida International University in Uttar Pradesh.
Esther, a second-year student, prepared to board Qatar Airways flight 1432 on January 17, 2025.
However, NDLEA operatives arrested her late at night on January 16 at the Royal Park Hotel in Sabon Garin Kano.
She anxiously awaited the moment to ingest the cocaine that she was supposed to deliver.
The investigation kicked off earlier that day, when NDLEA officers patrolling the Okene-Lokoja highway intercepted a commuter bus.
They arrested 31-year-old Cosmas Okorie, who was found with an audio speaker concealing 76 cocaine pellets weighing 1.340 kilograms.
This discovery led directly to Esther’s arrest later that same day.
In her confession, Esther revealed that a drug cartel had recruited her during her time in India.
They funded her trip to Nigeria so she could spend the holiday season at home.
To keep her parents in the dark about her trip, she opted not to visit her home state of Imo.
Instead, she stayed in a hotel in Enugu for two weeks before traveling to Abuja and then Kano, where she planned to ingest the cocaine before flying back to India.
She mentioned that she was promised over $5,000 for successfully delivering the drugs.
The NDLEA has actively conducted operations across the country. Along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja highway, authorities apprehended four suspects traveling to Maiduguri, Kano, and Abuja.
Officials discovered over 38,000 tramadol pills hidden inside audio speakers and clothing during the arrests of Abdullahi Umar, Tijjani Samaila, Lucky Obotte, and Abubakar Haruna.
In Lagos, the agency’s special operations unit raided Ojodu-Berger on January 14, arresting 59-year-old Nwokedi Emeka Jonas.
During the operation, they seized 10 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 4.9 kg, along with various retail packaging.
On January 15, authorities made more arrests in Lagos. They detained three individuals—Isaac Vincent, Ebube Ikechi, and Christopher Usifoh— in Igando New Town.
During the operation, officers found 1,610 kg of skunk and 6 kg of tramadol in their possession.
Additionally, they confiscated a delivery van along with three other vehicles used for distribution.
On January 18, authorities apprehended two suspects, Olashile Okoya and Mohammed Ibrahim, red-handed with 28 kg of Canadian Loud in Lekki.
This successful operation resulted from credible intelligence that led law enforcement to their residence in Lagos.
Furthermore, NDLEA operatives seized 67 kg of skunk from Saheed Sulaiman at his location on Edumare Street in Lagos Island.
On January 17, authorities arrested Usama Adamu and Isah Ibrahim in Kano, seizing 7.6 kg of skunk and psychoactive substances.
On January 15, authorities detained three suspects in Kwara State, targeting drug-related activities in the area.
Meanwhile, Samuel Ogbu faced arrest in Taraba State for possessing 25,000 tramadol pills, indicating a significant drug operation.
The NDLEA ramped up awareness efforts as part of their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
Over the past week, they engaged with communities, schools, and places of worship across the nation to promote awareness.
Notable events included sensitization lectures at various educational institutions and an advocacy visit to Governor Alex Otti in Abia State.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the NDLEA Chairman and CEO, praised his officers for their dedicated efforts nationwide.
He urged them to continue their relentless fight against drug trafficking and abuse to protect communities effectively.
He emphasized the importance of both drug supply and demand reduction strategies as the agency moves forward.