The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria has arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman, Farida Nansubuga, after discovering 87 wraps of cocaine concealed in her pelvic region at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The arrest took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when Nansubuga was attempting to board a flight back to Uganda from Terminal 2 of the airport. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed the incident in a statement released on Sunday, noting that the suspect was intercepted during a joint passenger screening exercise with aviation security personnel.
Following a body search that revealed suspicious substances, officers conducted a secondary examination in a private room, recovering 1.150 kilogrammes of cocaine strapped beneath two layers of underwear. During preliminary interrogation, Nansubuga stated that she had arrived in Nigeria on October 29 with members of her church for a prayer session at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun, Lagos. She claimed that while other members of her delegation returned to Uganda, she remained behind to collect a drug consignment on behalf of a friend identified as Joy.
Nansubuga alleged that her friend connected her with a contact in Nigeria who arranged transportation to a hotel on the morning of her departure. According to her account, a man handed her the cocaine at the hotel and instructed her to conceal it beneath her clothing to evade airport security checks. The suspect reportedly expected to receive at least $1,000 upon the successful delivery of the drugs to Uganda.
Additional Seizures at Lagos Airport
In a separate operation at the same airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at approximately N900 million. The consignment, which arrived from Ahmedabad, India, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on November 3, had been falsely declared as Paracetamol 500mg. The drugs were discovered on November 6 during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service, with the opioid tablets found in 10 of the 11 cartons, while the remaining carton contained paracetamol tablets allegedly used as cover.
Operatives also intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, on November 4. The drugs were concealed inside two wooden sofas within a cargo shipment from Houston, Texas, United States. Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, a freight agent who presented himself to clear the consignment, was arrested, as was Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, a 34-year-old caterer from Ibadan, Oyo State, who was detained on November 6 while attempting to collect the package. Ojo reportedly claimed he was sent by a friend named Taiwo Anuoluwapo Olusegun.
The NDLEA further disclosed the uncovering of a syndicate involved in importing chemicals used to produce synthetic cannabis, known as Colorado, from the United Kingdom. On October 23, nine parcels concealed in cartons of snacks labeled "Michael Tea Guy" were intercepted in a cargo shipment from the UK. Forensic analysis confirmed that two parcels contained 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis, while the remaining seven contained chemicals used in the production of synthetic cannabis. Several suspects have been arrested in connection with these shipments.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), stated that the arrest of the Ugandan woman demonstrated that drug cartels are exploiting religious activities and travel to recruit drug couriers. Marwa commended the agency's officers for their efforts and urged them to sustain their fight against drug trafficking and abuse across the country.
The agency reported additional seizures and arrests across Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Taraba, Enugu, and Delta states, involving various illicit substances including cannabis, tramadol, pregabalin, diazepam, and codeine. Notably, in Ondo State, operatives recovered 1,818 kilogrammes of cannabis and destroyed a one-hectare cannabis farm, while in Taraba State, three suspects were arrested with 226.255 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis. The NDLEA also reported intercepting cannabis shipments destined for the United Kingdom and tramadol consignments heading to the UK and Australia through courier companies in Lagos.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
