The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested an ex-convict, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, and three cargo agents over the seizure of cocaine concealed in liquid starch sachets and destined for the United Kingdom.
The NDLEA said 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilogrammes were recovered from factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
A statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said three cargo agents — Jubrin Hassana, Kuku Oluwasegun and Igwe Jane — were arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in connection with the consignment.
He said further investigation linked the shipment to 37-year-old Nwobodo, who was arrested the following day at a relaxation centre in Ikeja.
The statement partly read, “A notorious drug trafficker, Nwobodo Basil, previously convicted of dealing in 30.10kg methamphetamine in 2023, has again been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA following the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilograms concealed in factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch heading to the United Kingdom at the export shed of the MMIA Ikeja, Lagos.
“Three cargo agents: Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun, and Igwe Chioma Jane, involved in the attempt to export the consignment to the UK, were swiftly arrested on Saturday, 20th December 2025, before further investigations unravelled 37-year-old Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil as the mastermind. He was arrested in a follow-up operation on Sunday, 21st December at a popular relaxation centre in Ikeja, where he went on a date with his girlfriend.”
Babafemi said the agency’s records showed that Nwobodo had earlier been arrested in May 2023 over the seizure of 30.10kg of methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers and headed for London.
“He was subsequently arraigned at a Federal High Court in charge number: FHC/L/337C/2023, convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of a fine of ₦7,000,000.00, along with one-month community service, with effect from 4th December, 2023. He paid the fine and soon after returned to the same crime, ” he said.
He also said a 65-year-old driver was arrested in Gombe State with pentazocine injections and tramadol pills, while a businessman, Ignatius Egbochie (alias Brown), was picked up in Lagos over an earlier seizure of 26kg of “loud” cannabis at Tincan port.
“In Gombe state, a 65-year-old driver Sada’u Mohammed was arrested while conveying 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 27,900 pills of tramadol, and other opioids, along the Gombe-Biu highway, heading to Biu in Borno state.
Meanwhile, a 47-year-old businessman Ignatius Egbochie (alias Brown) wanted in connection with the seizure of 56 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 26kg at the Tincan seaport in Lagos, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives.
“The illicit drug consignment was seized on 10th December during a joint examination of a container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies. A follow-up operation by NDLEA operatives on 19th December led to the arrest of Ignatius in Apapa,” the statement said.
In separate operations, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives destroyed warehouses and seized large quantities of cannabis in Ekiti, Edo, Cross River, Abuja, Lagos and Taraba between December 21 and 25, 2025, with several suspects arrested.
“In another successful operation, NDLEA operatives on Monday, December 22, set ablaze tons of skunk, a strain of cannabis and wooden warehouses in Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, where 638 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance were also recovered. No fewer than 1,205 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 883.1kg were recovered from three Toyota Camry vehicles intercepted by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Igara-Auchi road, Edo state on Monday, 22nd December.
“In Cross River state, raid operations conducted on Sunday, 21st December at Agoi-Ibami community, Yakurr LGA, led to the arrest of three suspects and seizure of various quantities of skunk. They include: Freedom Jonah Akpama, 27, with 671kg; David Itam David, 30, with 89kg; and Nelson Arikpo Osam, 26, with 148kg, ” the statement added.
Last Sunday, PUNCH Online reported that NDLEA operatives arrested one Shodunke Simbiat, a fugitive member of a cocaine trafficking syndicate who hid illicit drugs in her children’s room.
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