NDLEA Apprehends Two British Nationals, Seizes N6.5 Billion Worth of Illicit Drugs at Lagos and Rivers Ports

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two British citizens attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud, a potent cannabis strain weighing 51.10kg, into Nigeria via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

The suspects, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, were detained alongside two Nigerians: Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami. Tatendra arrived at MMIA on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on May 15 and was monitored by NDLEA operatives to the airport car park. There, Ayedipe, a British-Nigerian, awaited in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with his relative Shonowo and driver Ofuoma to receive the consignment. As they attempted to exit the car park, NDLEA officers intercepted them, discovering the drug-laden vehicle.

Tatendra confessed to being recruited during a recent vacation, promised £1,300 for delivering the package in Lagos. Ayedipe admitted to arriving in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa via Ghana. A subsequent search of their Lekki apartment yielded N93,000, 17,200 South African Rand, N3.8 million in cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four nitrous oxide canisters.

In a separate operation, NDLEA agents intercepted approximately six million opioid pills, including tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg, and carisoprodol 225mg, along with 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, valued at N6.5 billion. These seizures occurred at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, following intelligence reports and monitoring of new trafficking routes. At Port Harcourt, six million opioid pills and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup were uncovered in two containers on May 19 and 20 during joint examinations by NDLEA operatives, Nigeria Customs officials, and other security agencies.