Efforts by two major drug traffickers to smuggle heroin into Nigeria through Port Harcourt International Airport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The agency continues its relentless war against drug smuggling, ensuring that traffickers are brought to justice while also intensifying nationwide campaigns to reduce drug demand and abuse.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. He revealed that the agency successfully apprehended two traffickers attempting to smuggle heroin into the country using different strategies. These arrests come as part of NDLEA’s broader efforts to combat drug-related crimes and protect communities from the harmful impact of illicit substances.
First Drug Kingpin Arrested in Port Harcourt Airport
One of the suspects, Onyekwonike Elochuckwu Sylvanus, 30, was arrested while attempting to enter Nigeria using a Sierra Leonean passport under the alias Kargbo Mohamed Foday. Sylvanus, who operates under dual identities for cross-border drug trafficking, was intercepted on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the Port Harcourt airport upon arrival on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha via Abuja.
A body scan revealed he had ingested illicit substances. Placed under excretion observation, he later expelled 62 wraps of heroin, totaling 1.348 kilograms, over five separate excretions. The method of swallowing and concealing drugs internally is a well-known smuggling tactic that NDLEA operatives are trained to detect. This arrest is part of a wider crackdown on drug mules attempting to exploit Nigeria’s airports for illicit trade.
Investigations uncovered that Sylvanus alternates between his Nigerian and Sierra Leonean identities to traffic heroin across Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, and West Africa. He confessed to joining the drug trade full-time in 2017 after his clothing and shoe business failed. His extensive involvement in drug trafficking networks highlights the sophistication of these criminal operations and the need for continued vigilance by NDLEA authorities.
Second Drug Kingpin Arrested at Lagos Airport
Another trafficker, James Herbert Chinoso, 48, was arrested at MMIA on Saturday, February 1, 2025, after arriving from Madagascar via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit drugs, leading to his placement under excretion observation. He later expelled 63 wraps of heroin weighing 909 grams.
Chinoso had traveled from Lagos to Madagascar on January 26, 2025, and returned after a week. He admitted to smuggling drugs after his phone accessories business in Liberia collapsed. His case reflects a pattern seen among traffickers who turn to illegal activities after financial struggles, making them vulnerable to recruitment by international drug cartels.
Major Drug Seizures Across the Country
In addition to the arrests, NDLEA operatives intercepted several drug consignments across different locations in the country, highlighting the agency’s commitment to curbing the circulation of illegal substances.
At a Lagos courier firm, two parcels containing 2.82 kilograms of Loud (a synthetic cannabis strain) imported from the United States were seized. This discovery underscores the increasing use of international courier services to traffic illicit drugs.
Another shipment containing 80 ampoules of pentazocine injection (225 grams) was intercepted at a separate logistics company in Lagos. The package was destined for Canada, indicating a global dimension to the drug trade.
In Kano, officers arrested Usaini Salisu and Yahaya Mu’azu, both 23 years old, on Monday, February 3, 2025, along Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria Road. They were caught attempting to transport 15,396 tramadol pills concealed inside a gas cylinder, a technique traffickers use to evade detection.
On the same day, Choima Okeke, 35, was arrested in Sabon Gari with 27 blocks of skunk (15kg). The increasing arrests in Kano indicate a growing concern over drug distribution networks in northern Nigeria.
In Kogi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 12,800 tramadol pills (250mg) on Saturday, February 8, 2025, along the Kabba-Obajana highway, leading to the arrest of Salisu Basiru, 33. Tramadol abuse has been a major concern in Nigeria, contributing to rising cases of addiction and mental health issues.
At the same checkpoint, 65 parcels of Colorado (a potent synthetic cannabis strain) weighing 1.6kg, bound for Jigawa State, were seized from Rufai Hassan, 32. The interception of such large quantities of synthetic drugs highlights ongoing efforts to combat the spread of high-potency substances in local communities.
Nationwide Anti-Drug Campaigns Intensify
Alongside enforcement operations, NDLEA continues to expand its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign by conducting sensitization programs in schools, workplaces, religious centers, and communities. These campaigns aim to educate young people and the general public on the dangers of drug abuse while promoting a drug-free society.
Recent awareness sessions were held at:
Saint Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi: NDLEA officials engaged students in discussions about the risks of drug abuse, peer pressure, and the legal consequences of drug trafficking.
Taangayar Malam Abubakar Bichi (Almajiri school), Bichi, Kano: The campaign extended to religious schools, where clerics were encouraged to include drug abuse awareness in their teachings.
Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, Cross River: Female students were educated on the impact of drug addiction on mental health, academic performance, and social behavior.
College of Nursing and Science, Birnin Kebbi: NDLEA officers addressed future healthcare professionals on identifying and managing cases of drug addiction.
Meiran Community Junior Secondary School, Abule Egba, Lagos: The campaign targeted secondary school students, warning them about early exposure to drug use and its long-term consequences.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the MMIA, PHIA, DOGI, Kano, and Kogi Commands for their relentless efforts in disrupting drug supply chains while simultaneously promoting demand reduction initiatives nationwide. He emphasized that NDLEA will continue to take strong measures to ensure that drug traffickers face the full wrath of the law while also working on preventive measures to tackle drug abuse at its root.
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