Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully intercepted large quantities of cocaine, hidden in prayer beads and locally made shoes, as part of an attempt to smuggle the illicit substances into the Holy Land.
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Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, confirmed the interception in a statement, which included pictures of the confiscated contraband. Babafemi said that while many were focused on spiritual devotion during the holy month, some individuals were preoccupied with desecrating the sanctity of the holy land by attempting to smuggle cocaine.
The NDLEA’s statement described the discovery as part of ongoing efforts to halt the trafficking of illegal drugs, stating, “In this holy month when people are consecrating themselves and making supplications to their God, some persons were preoccupied with concealing cocaine in prayer beads and locally made shoes to desecrate the precincts of the holy land.”
The agency has foiled numerous attempts to smuggle various illicit drugs, including cocaine, tramadol, skunk, and opioids, hidden in unusual items such as prayer beads, female clothing, and board game boxes, destined for destinations like the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the UAE.
Two suspects have already been arrested in connection with these thwarted shipments at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. On March 8, 2025, a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, was apprehended at the departure hall while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy. She was carrying 190 parcels of tramadol (225mg) and additional parcels of skunk. May admitted to purchasing the drugs for resale in Italy.
On March 11, 2025, a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, was arrested while attempting to ship 400 grams of skunk concealed within cloths bound for New York, USA.
NDLEA operatives also intercepted 230 grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads and shoe soles, with shipments headed for Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE between March 10-12, 2025.
Other significant seizures took place across Nigeria, including 727 blocks of compressed skunk (479kg) in Kano, 58,300 pills of tramadol in Kogi, and over 40,000 tramadol tablets in Kwara. In Taraba, 15.77kg of skunk was confiscated, while 48.7kg of cannabis was seized in Osun state.
A range of additional operations led to the arrest of suspects carrying large quantities of tramadol, skunk, and cocaine, with seizures spanning several states, including Kaduna, Abia, and FCT.
As part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness, the NDLEA also conducted War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities at schools and communities across the country.
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the efforts of officers involved in these operations and expressed his appreciation for their balanced approach to reducing both drug supply and demand across Nigeria.
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