NDLEA intercepts giant meth consignments hidden in cereal packs from South Africa

A search of his two travelling containers led to the restoration of 25 parcels of a white crystalline substance weighing 25.05kg, which examined optimistic for methamphetamine.

The parcels had been allegedly hid inside packs of various breakfast cereals and cereal-based meals merchandise to evade safety screening.

The 56-year-old suspect, who holds Nigerian and South African passports, reportedly advised investigators that he had lived in South Africa for over 24 years.

He confessed to adopting the title Omokan Isaac Babatope after utilizing cast paperwork to realize entry into South Africa and had continued utilizing the identification.

He additional disclosed {that a} South Africa-based man, recognized as Obiora Okoye, contracted him to ship the consignment in Nigeria for R20,000.

In one other operation on the identical day, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 28-year-old American citizen, Greene Da’monte Khiree, who arrived in Lagos aboard an Emirates flight from Thailand via Dubai.

The suspect allegedly deserted his two checked-in baggage and tried to go away the airport with solely his carry-on baggage however was arrested on the airport automobile park after being positioned below surveillance.

A search of the luggage, which bore his title tags, led to the restoration of 32 parcels of Loud weighing 33.95kg. A monitoring system was additionally recovered from the baggage.

The suspect, a local of Savannah, Georgia, United States, reportedly claimed he had lived in Thailand since October 2025, the place he performs skilled basketball.

He mentioned he travelled to Nigeria on vacation to construct networks for his basketball profession.

However, a forensic examination of his cell phone allegedly revealed info linking him to the drug trafficking operation.

In Lagos, operatives on Tuesday, November 10, arrested a 33-year-old man, Taiwo Adebayo Aderoju, throughout an intelligence-led operation at Ebute Metta, the place 119.71kg of hashish was recovered.

Similarly, a joint operation within the Ajah space on Saturday, November 14, led to the restoration of 78.8kg of hashish, 2.5 litres of skuchies, 6.8 litres of codeine syrup, 23g of Rohypnol, 478g of tramadol, 10.6kg of nitrous oxide and 714g of pregabalin from an deserted Toyota Sienna.

The suspect reportedly fled after sighting the operatives.

In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives on Monday, November 9, raided a facility in Sabon Garin Kangin, the place they uncovered a manufacturing unit allegedly used for the native manufacture of firearms.

A forty five-year-old man, Sagiru Musa, was arrested throughout the operation.

Items recovered included 17 regionally made Dane weapons, two pistols, 25 Dane gun pipes and different supplies allegedly utilized in manufacturing firearms.

In a separate operation, officers on patrol alongside the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Jere intercepted a 31-year-old lady, Tabara Dauda, on Friday, November 13, with 196 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and N675,000 money.

Another suspect, 30-year-old Samson Chibuike Andebe, was arrested at Grace Land, Sabon Gari Local Government Area, on Wednesday, November 11, with 3,840 tablets of tramadol 225mg weighing 2.5kg.

NDLEA operatives additionally recovered 499.3kg of hashish from two suspects, Celestine Chime, 34, and Chibueze Christ, 36, following a raid on their hideout within the Gonin-Gora space on Saturday, November 14.

In Ondo State, two suspects, Victor William, 42, and Akeem Azeez, 27, had been arrested at Olabi village bush on Tuesday, November 10, after allegedly bringing out baggage of hashish on the market.

The suspects subsequently led the operatives to their storage facility, the place 50 baggage of hashish weighing 560kg had been recovered.

Another operation at a hashish farm in Ipele forest on Friday, November 13, led to the arrest of three suspects recognized as Godwin Benson, 30, Muhammed Awwal, 34, and James Timothy, 18. A complete of 122kg of hashish was recovered.

In Delta State, operatives arrested a 43-year-old lady, Esther Igba, at Alihame, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, on Thursday, November 12, with 255.67kg of hashish and 1.5kg of hashish seeds.

Earlier, on Tuesday, November 10, a 25-year-old suspected drug distributor, Aaron Thomas, also referred to as Ibori, was arrested at Oguato, Ughelli South Local Government Area, after allegedly being trailed for over six months.

The suspect was reportedly arrested with 360g of hashish, 12.7 litres of codeine syrup, 500g of tramadol 100mg, 90g of tramadol 200mg, 215g of swinol and 135g of Molly.

In Osun State, two suspects, Eze Chidiebere, 23, and Nwaoge Ugochukwu, 24, had been arrested with 86kg of hashish throughout an operation to destroy illicit drug farms at Owena Forest Reserve.

In one other operation within the forest reserve, operatives arrested 40-year-old Ugwu Chukwuemeka with 28kg of dried hashish and 21kg of recent hashish leaves.

His 0.855-hectare hashish farm, containing an estimated 2,137.5kg of the plant, was additionally destroyed.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, November 10, raided Jamila Street, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, following weeks of surveillance.

A 39-year-old lady, Blessing Chukwudi, was arrested throughout the operation, whereas 22 compressed parcels of Loud weighing 14kg, 65g of Colorado and 73g of methamphetamine had been recovered.

The company additionally continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in colleges, spiritual centres, workplaces and communities throughout the nation.

The campaigns included enlightenment programmes in colleges in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Plateau and Kano states, in addition to an advocacy go to by the Ondo State Command to the Olu of Ilu Abo, Oba Olu Falae.

Commending officers and males of the affected instructions, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised their vigilance and professionalism.

Marwa mentioned the interception of methamphetamine hid in breakfast cereal packs demonstrated that no concealment methodology may defeat the company’s operatives.

He added that the invention of the unlawful firearms manufacturing unit in Kaduna additional highlighted the hyperlink between illicit medication and violent crimes.

The NDLEA boss urged officers throughout the nation to maintain efforts in direction of lowering each the provision of illicit medication and the demand for them.