NDLEA seizes cocaine hidden in motor parts, nabs suspects

The Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled an attempt by an auto spare parts dealer, Okeke Ebuka Igwe, to send two parcels of 1.10kg cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

The NDLEA officers also arrested Igwe at the Lagos airport on Monday, February 24, 2025.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, made this known via a statement on Sunday, March 2.

He said the suspect, during interrogation, claimed that he is a businessman selling auto parts in ASPANDA, Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos.

Babafemi stated that the bid by another suspect, Ezechi Iyke Cyprian, to move a large consignment of cocaine weighing 5.40 kilograms to Owerri, Imo State, in his Toyota Sienna bus on Sunday, February 13, was frustrated by operatives of a special operations unit of the NDLEA who arrested him following weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

Babafemi added: “At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Friday 28th February discovered a total of 128 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in two matrasses in the trunk of a Toyota Venza car imported from Canada.

“The discovery of the 63.75kg consignment was made during a joint examination of a targeted container marked TCNU 1945861 from Montreal, Canada, by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies.

“The consignee of the shipment, 44-year-old Bamidele Joseph has been arrested and taken into custody.”

Commending the anti-narcotic officers for the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), stated that their operational successes, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, were well appreciated.