In a significant victory against drug trafficking, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) successfully intercepted two major heroin smuggling attempts at the Port Harcourt International Airport and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. These operations, which took place on February 1st and 2nd, resulted in the arrest of two drug kingpins who attempted to bring illicit substances into the country.
Cross-Border Drug Kingpin Apprehended in Port Harcourt
One of the arrested traffickers, identified as Onyekwonike Elochuckwu Sylvanus, 30, was caught using dual identities to facilitate his illegal activities. He was found with both a Nigerian passport under his real name and a Sierra Leonean passport under the alias Kargbo Mohamed Foday.
On February 2nd, NDLEA officers intercepted Sylvanus at Port Harcourt Airport during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha via Abuja. A body scan confirmed that he had ingested illicit drugs, leading to his placement under excretion observation. Over five separate excretions, he expelled 62 wraps of heroin, weighing a total of 1.348 kilograms.
Further investigations revealed that Sylvanus had been operating as a full-time drug trafficker since 2017, frequently traveling between Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, and various West African nations. He reportedly turned to drug trafficking after the collapse of his clothing and shoe business.
Second Trafficker Nabbed at Lagos Airport
In a separate operation at Lagos’ MMIA on February 1st, NDLEA operatives apprehended another trafficker, James Herbert Chinoso, 48, who had arrived from Madagascar via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Following a body scan that revealed illicit substances in his system, Chinoso was placed under excretion observation. Over multiple excretions, he expelled 63 wraps of heroin, totaling 909 grams.
Chinoso had departed Lagos for Madagascar on January 26th and returned after a week. He admitted to joining the drug trade after his phone accessories business in Liberia failed.
Additional Drug Seizures and Arrests Across Nigeria
Beyond the major airport operations, NDLEA operatives made several other drug seizures in the first week of February:
- On February 6th, two parcels containing 2.82 kilograms of “Loud,” a potent strain of synthetic cannabis imported from the United States, were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos. The parcels were destined for Lagos-based recipients.
- The same day, anti-narcotics officers at a separate logistics company in Lagos intercepted 80 ampoules of pentazocine injection (225 grams) concealed in cartons meant for Canada.
- In Kano, NDLEA officers arrested Usaini Salisu and Yahaya Mu’azu, both 23, at Gadar Tamburawa along Zaria Road on February 3rd. They were found with 15,396 tramadol pills hidden inside a gas cylinder.
- Another suspect, Chioma Okeke, 35, was arrested in the Sabon Gari area of Kano with 27 blocks of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 15 kilograms.
- On February 8th, along the Kabba-Obajana highway in Kogi State, NDLEA officers intercepted 12,800 tramadol 250mg pills destined for Shuwarin, Jigawa State. A suspect, Salisu Basiru, 33, was arrested in connection with the drugs.
- On the same day at the same checkpoint, 65 parcels of “Colorado,” a synthetic cannabis strain weighing 1.6 kilograms, were seized from another suspect, Rufai Hassan, 32. The consignment was also headed for Jigawa State.
NDLEA’s Nationwide War Against Drug Abuse Continues
In addition to its enforcement operations, NDLEA continues to intensify its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across Nigeria. Throughout the past week, the agency conducted sensitization programs in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. These activities included enlightenment lectures at:
- Saint Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
- Taangayar Malam Abubakar Bichi, an Almajiri school in Bichi, Kano State
- Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, Cross River State
- College of Nursing and Science, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State
- Meiran Community Junior Secondary School, Abule Egba, Lagos State
NDLEA Chairman Commends Officers for Successful Operations
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers and personnel involved in these successful arrests and seizures. He specifically acknowledged the efforts of the MMIA, PHIA, DOGI, Kano, and Kogi Commands for their vigilance in combating drug trafficking.
Marwa reiterated that these operational successes highlight NDLEA’s strategic balance between reducing drug supply and addressing drug demand through education and rehabilitation programs.
As NDLEA continues its relentless fight against drug trafficking, the agency remains committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining national security. Nigerians are encouraged to report suspicious activities and support the agency’s efforts in creating a drug-free society.
