Nigeria: NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in cream containers, meth in water heater

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a major drug trafficking operation involving cocaine concealed in body cream containers and methamphetamine hidden inside a water heater. The discovery came alongside a raid on a Lagos nightclub hosting a drug party.

The raid was conducted in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, at Proxy Night Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, where over 100 suspects were arrested, including the club owner, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike.

Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from the suspects and the club’s storage area. The operation followed intelligence reports and was carried out around 3 a.m.

In a separate operation, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 70 parcels of cocaine weighing 3.6 kilograms concealed in cocoa butter formula body cream containers bound for London. The arrest of a cargo agent led to the capture of two accomplices, including a travel agency CEO.

At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, a 35-year-old Lesotho national was arrested while attempting to export 103.59 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a herbal coffee tea pack to the Philippines.

In Kwara State, operatives arrested a suspect with 21,950 capsules of tramadol 250mg hidden inside a 100-litre water heater.

Similarly, in Taraba State, two men were apprehended with 450,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 at a checkpoint in Dan-Anacha.

Other seizures include 162.2kg of skunk in Kogi, 128kg in Nasarawa, and 500 grams of Loud recovered from a major distributor in Lekki, Lagos. In Ikorodu, 275 litres of skuchies—a mix of cannabis, blackcurrant drink, and opioids—were also seized.

NDLEA further reported arrests in Abia, Ondo, Kaduna, and Zamfara states, where arms and ammunition were confiscated from a suspect transporting them to bandits.