Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a 42-year-old Indian lady, Ms Neetu Neetu, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin factory sealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.

The illicit drug consignment, weighing a total of 11 kilograms, was discovered in her luggage following a thorough search based on credible intelligence.

A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said  Neetu was apprehended on Friday, March 14, 2025, during an inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431, which arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha.

“The arrest of Neetu signifies a growing attempt by drug trafficking organisations to hire white ladies and foreign nationals to move illicit drugs through the Nigerian borders, a bid that vigilant NDLEA operatives have consistently frustrated with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence, says Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), in his immediate reaction to Neetu’s arrest, “ he added.

Babafemi also said in another operation in Kano, the NDLEA officers on March 20 arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Michael Ogundele, with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria-Kano Road.

“Based on credible intelligence, welding tools were later used to cut the giant cylinder after which 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in it were extracted,” he added.

In yet another operation in Kano, Babafemi said 40-year-old Sunday Ogar was arrested with 27kg skunk.

He said, “Sunday Ogar, 40, was nabbed at Gunduwawa area of Kano on Wednesday 19th March with 27kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, a female suspect Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was arrested with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Lungun Bulala Yalwa area of the state on Tuesday, March 18.”

In Lagos, Babafemi said the duo of Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa were nabbed with 67.5kg skunk in Mushin.

“100.8kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in Anifowoshe area of Mushin while Isah Idris was arrested in Apapa with 4.5kg skunk; 600grams of tramadol 225mg and 30 litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday, March 18.

“Another suspect, Yahaya Mohamed, was arrested the same day in the Ikotun area of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine,” he added.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has intercepted a 42-year-old Indian woman, Ms. Neetu Neetu, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin concealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.

According to a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, the consignment, weighing 11kg, was seized from Neetu’s luggage after a search at the arrival hall of the airport.

The operation, based on credible intelligence, took place during the inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha, on March 14, 2025.

Reacting to the arrest, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), highlighted a disturbing trend of drug cartels hiring foreign nationals, including white women, to traffic illicit substances through Nigerian borders.

“This growing tactic by drug trafficking organisations has consistently been frustrated by our vigilant officers with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence,” Marwa stated.

Major Seizures in Kano, Lagos

In another successful operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Michael Ogundele, on Thursday, with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along the Zaria-Kano road.

After welding tools were used to cut open the cylinder, officers discovered and extracted 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed inside.

Similarly, in Gunduwawa, Kano, officers arrested a 40-year-old suspect, Sunday Ogar, on Wednesday, with 27kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

A female suspect, Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was also apprehended at Lungun Bulala Yalwa on Tuesday in possession of 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

In Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa in Mushin with 67.5kg of skunk, while an additional 100.8kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in Anifowoshe, Mushin.

Another suspect, Isah Idris, was arrested in Apapa on Tuesday,with 4.5kg of skunk, 600 grams of tramadol 225mg, and 30 litres of codeine syrup.

That same day, Yahaya Mohamed was apprehended in Ikotun with different quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.

The statement obtained from the NDLEA website disclosed these.

Nationwide Anti-Drug Awareness Campaigns

Beyond enforcement, NDLEA formations across the country have intensified their War Against Drug Abuse advocacy, conducting sensitisation programmes in schools, markets, workplaces, and religious centres.

Recent activities include lectures at Chrisland School, Ikeja, Lagos; Hakimi Secondary School, Mokwa, Niger State; Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, Anambra State; Ikole City College, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State; Government Day Secondary School, Sunane, Sokoto State; and Government Day Secondary School, Jada, Adamawa State.

Commending the NDLEA officers in MAKIA, Lagos, and Kano Commands for their relentless efforts, Marwa emphasised the agency’s dual focus on drug supply and demand reduction.

“Our operatives must not relent in ensuring a balanced and sustained fight against drug abuse and trafficking nationwide,” he urged.