UGANDAN WOMAN IN NIGERIA FOR CRUSADE ARRESTED WITH 87 COCAINE WRAPS CONCEALED IN PRIVATE PART WHILE IN ANOTHER OPERATION, NDLEA INTERCEPTS UK, AUSTRALIA-BOUND DRUGS HIDDEN IN FEMALE HEAD WEARS; RECOVERS MULTI-BILLION NAIRA OPIOIDS, LOUD, OTHERS IN NATIONWIDE RAIDS
By Olayiwola Ibrahim // She came to Nigeria with members of her church for a prayer session in Lagos, but while her delegation returned to Uganda, 34-year-old Ugandan national, Ms. Farida Nansubuga, stayed back for a different mission — to smuggle cocaine.
Her plan failed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, when operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted her at Terminal 2 during a joint screening exercise with Aviation Security personnel.
She was about to board an Ugandan airline flight to Uganda.
A body search revealed a substance concealed around her pelvic region.
She was taken to a private search room where 87 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.150 kilograms were recovered, strapped around her pelvic area beneath two layers of underwear.
During preliminary interview, the suspect said she arrived in Nigeria on 29th October 2026 with her church members for a prayer session at The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun Egbe, Lagos.
After the programme, other members returned while she stayed back to collect the consignment for a friend identified as Joy, who lives in Uganda.
She claimed Joy linked her to a contact in Nigeria who arranged a vehicle to a hotel on the morning of her departure.
The man handed her the drug and told her to hide it under her clothing. She said she expected to be paid at least US$1,000 on successful delivery.
On Friday, 6th November, NDLEA operatives uncovered 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg weighing 526kg with street value of N900 million. The consignment from India was declared as Paracetamol Tablets 500mg.
It arrived in eleven cartons packed in two wooden structures aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Ahmedabad, India, on Tuesday, 3rd November.
Officers placed it under surveillance until a joint examination with Customs and other agencies on Friday. Ten cartons contained the opioid, one contained paracetamol as cover.
Also on Wednesday, 4th November, 32 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 16.15kg were intercepted, concealed in two wooden sofas in cargo from Houston, Texas, USA, aboard Turkish Airlines. Freight agent Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale was arrested.
In a follow-up on Friday, 6th November, caterer Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, 34, who came to collect the package was arrested. He claimed he was sent by Taiwo Anuoluwapo Olusegun.
Similarly, a syndicate importing chemicals for Colorado production from the UK was busted.
Nine parcels hidden in two cartons of snacks labelled Michael Tea Guy” arrived aboard Air Peace from UK on 23rd October.
Two parcels had 1.20kg cannabis, seven others contained chemicals for synthetic cannabis. Freight agent Afolabi Abiodun Wale, 51, was arrested.
Two more cartons later arrived via Allied Air. A sting operation from 26th to 28th October led to arrest of Okwuite Benjamin Ojone, 51, on delivery.
Search revealed three parcels in detergent packs weighing 3.30kg and eleven plastic bottles of liquid substances weighing 16.25kg. Total seizure, 1.20kg cannabis and 28.65kg synthetic chemicals.
At courier companies in Lagos on Tuesday, 3rd November, 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2kg going to UK were intercepted.
Earlier on Friday, 30th October, 296 tablets of Swinol going to Australia, plus three Tramadol shipments to UK were seized, 20 capsules from Benin City and 96 from Sapele in vitamin C containers, and 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba hidden in female head wears.
On Friday, 6th November, Abubakar Ali, 32, was arrested at Marine Beach, Apapa, with 1.06kg Tramadol 250mg, 1.27kg Tramadol 225mg, 400g pregabalin, 355g diazepam, 200ml codeine and 6.07kg cannabis recovered from a store inside his apartment.
Ondo, 148 bags of cannabis weighing 1,818kg recovered on Odofin Road, Uso, on 6th November.
Same day, one hectare cannabis farm destroyed in Board Forest, 242kg recovered, suspect Itoro Linus Akpan, 36, arrested.
Ekiti, Agbo Paul Peter, 53, arrested at Osin Forest, Osin Ekiti, on 5th November with 216kg cannabis and seeds.
Edo, Golf car with 19 bags weighing 201kg intercepted along Auchi-Ibillo road, Akoko Edo LGA, driver Abdulmumid Isah, 39, and passenger Danako Godwin, 25, arrested.
Also, three suspects arrested at Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, Emmanuel Sunday, 25; Samuel Bala, 31, Loveth Momodu, 20, with Colorado, Loud and cannabis.
Taraba: Three suspects arrested at Lankaviri checkpoint, Yorro LGA, with 283 blocks weighing 226.255kg in two days.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, 45, with 156 blocks (149.275kg) and Kabiru Usman, 25, with 80 blocks (40.07kg) on 5th November; Babangida Babayo, 32, with 47 blocks (36.91kg) on 6th November.
In Enugu, Celestine Uzochukwu Ejiakor, 57, arrested 3rd November at Eke Obinagu with 44 blocks (22.5kg). At Ugwuoba checkpoint, Godwin Shaapera, 40, arrested with 24,000 Tramadol capsules (13.4kg) and 697g ketamine.
In Delta, Edugua Othuke, 30, arrested at Ozoro, Isoko North on 31st October with 10.54kg skunk, 9.4kg cannabis seeds, 4.3g methamphetamine.
Akpofure Tobore, 34, arrested 4th November at Upper Agbarho, Ughelli with skunk, tramadol, rohypnol and laughing gas.
NDLEA Commands continued WADA sensitization in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities, including lectures at St. Andrew Basic School, Oyo, Government Technical College, Abakaliki, Sa’ad College, Kano, Inland Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, and advocacy visit to Emir of Bauchi, HRH Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu.
Commending officers of MMIA, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Taraba and Enugu Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the Ugandan woman’s case is a sad reminder that drug cartels exploit faith and religious travel to recruit couriers.
He urged officers to sustain supply and demand reduction efforts.
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