NDLEA busts Woman with fake Pregnancy, Ivorian excretes 82 Cocaine Wraps

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered two bizarre drug trafficking plots involving a fake pregnancy and swallowed cocaine consignments, arresting suspects at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and Seme border in Lagos.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed the development on Sunday in a statement, said operatives of the Agency foiled attempts by traffickers to move cocaine and opioids concealed in stomachs and a fabricated baby bump to Europe and neighbouring West African countries.

Babafemi said a 35-year-old Kano-based businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, was intercepted at the departure point of the Seme land border on Monday, 16 February 2026, while attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic.

He noted that the suspect appeared heavily pregnant, raising suspicion among officers, saying however, a thorough body search exposed the deception.

Babafemi stated that Muhammad’s protruding stomach was not a pregnancy but a pink-coloured calabash carefully strapped to her abdomen, concealing 3,200 capsules of tramadol.

“She tied the consignment around her stomach and was heading to Cotonou to sell the drugs,” Babafemi said, describing the concealment method as both desperate and criminal.

On the same day in Kano, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives at the screening point of the departure hall of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport intercepted a 41-year-old Ivorian, Michael Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, during outward clearance for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan via Addis Ababa.

Babafemi said the suspect was taken for a body scan, which confirmed ingestion of illicit substances.

He noted that the suspect was placed under observation and subsequently excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes.

According to Babafemi, investigations revealed that Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan on 17 January 2026 and shuttled between Lagos and Enugu for three weeks before travelling to Kano, where he stayed for a week.

He said the suspect ingested the cocaine in his hotel room and was to be paid 5,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Milan.

Babafemi further stated that the suspect claimed his father is Ivorian while his mother hails from Anunwa compound in Urunnebo village, Ukwan, Enugu State.

He applied for asylum in Italy in 2013 and holds a resident permit valid until 25 May 2026, in addition to possessing a Nigerian National Identification Number.

Beyond the airport and border interceptions, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives recorded multiple seizures across the country within the week under review.

In Lagos, he said Ugwuja Kingsley was arrested with 56kg of skunk at Agbara on Thursday, 19 February, while Ekwe Arinze was apprehended with 76kg of the same substance at a motor park in Oshodi on Tuesday, 17 February.

At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Babafemi said 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup were uncovered in a container during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies.

He noted that the discovery followed processed intelligence and a request by NDLEA for a 100 per cent physical examination of the shipment.

In Kogi State, Babafemi stated that 7,300 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in two sound systems were recovered along the Okene/Lokoja highway during the search of a commuter bus travelling from Lagos to Kano on Sunday, 15 February.

A follow-up operation in Zuba, Abuja, led to the arrest of two suspects linked to the consignment: Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29.

In Ondo State, Babafemi said Bright Timothy, 28, was arrested at Iju forest with 195kg of skunk and seeds, while Godwin Bernard was nabbed with 198kg of the same substance during a raid on their enclaves.

He added that in Bauchi State, a total of 936kg of skunk was seized from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, 48, in Azare town, Katagun LGA, while another 85.8kg was recovered from Yahaya Adamu Gimba and three others-Nasiru Suleman, 36; Abdul Umar, 25; and Musa Suleman, 21.

Babafemi said 37kg of skunk was also seized from Mgbeme Ejeoma, 34, in Ughelli, Delta State. In Edo State, he noted that operatives raided Etiosa camp in Owan West LGA, destroying 1,266.8475kg of skunk on three farms and recovering 23kg of processed cannabis.

Two suspects, including a 68-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Ogenewu, and Friday Iruoje, 43, were arrested.

While commending officers of the MAKIA, Seme, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Ondo, Delta and Kogi Commands for the arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the operational successes reflect the Agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.

Babafemi stated that the Agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools and communities nationwide, targeting institutions in Oyo, Yobe, Imo, Gombe, Cross River, Kano and Lagos states.

He said the leadership of the Agency remains committed to intensifying enforcement and preventive education to curb the menace of illicit drugs across Nigeria.