NDLEA Intercepts China, Italy-bound cocaine shipment concealed mortar, backpack

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By: Kingsley Omonobi

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine concealed in local mortar and the false bottom of a backpack, packaged for shipment to China and Italy, respectively, through a logistics company in Lagos.

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According to the agency, the seizures were made by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) on Thursday, 30th July 2026.

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They include 250grams of cocaine, factory fitted into the base of a local mortar packed in a carton for export to China, and 500grams of the same Class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack being shipped to Italy.

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NDLEA also disclosed that its operatives in Rivers State arrested a 38-year-old notorious drug dealer, Ugo Gift Okonkwo, at Eagle Island Port Harcourt, following credible intelligence.

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The agency said the suspect was nabbed with various quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, swinol, tramadol and codeine syrup at the time of his arrest on Sunday, 26th July.

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Additionally, NDLEA officers on a stop-and-search operation at DMGS roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra State on Monday, 27th July intercepted a truck marked XK 131 BDG loaded with 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 3,960kg while the truck driver, Chinedu Nwanze, 40, was arrested.

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It said another 33, 1.84 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number KUJ 26 DV along Kwale/Ughelli expressway, Delta State on Sunday, 26th July,

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In Nasarawa State, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, 28th July arrested a 64-year-old man, Joseph Nwaeke, with 68kg of skunk and 29grams of methamphetamine at Asso Angwan Muazu, Karu area of the state.

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In Zamfara, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Zaria- Gusau highway on Monday, 27th July intercepted a suspect, Sani Umar, 27, conveying 7,400 pills of tramadol 225mg suspected to be supplies for criminal elements.

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With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week.

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These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Hausawa Special Primary School, Kano; Royal Crown School, Oluyole, Ibadan; Government Secondary School, Ibi, Taraba; and drivers at Challenge Bus Terminal Park, Ibadan, Oyo State, among others.

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Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers and men of DOGI, Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Nasarawa, and Zamfara Commands for the various successful operations,

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He enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

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