The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, after intercepting 32.74 kilogrammes of cannabis, known as Thai Loud, concealed in two bags at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.
The agency also intercepted 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 307.20kg, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as part of its nationwide anti-drug operations.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, October 11, 2026, saying the South African woman was arrested in a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service.
Babafemi said the suspect arrived at the Port Harcourt airport aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Thailand via Doha, with 30 parcels of the cannabis concealed in two bags.
He said the woman allegedly confessed to previously trafficking drugs in other African countries and disclosed that she was expanding her operations to Port Harcourt.
Babafemi stated that at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted nine cartons of Tapentadol tablets imported from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight. The consignment had been placed under surveillance following the aircraft’s arrival on September 29, while a joint examination conducted on October 6 confirmed the seizure of 354,000 tablets.
He added that operatives also intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain weighing 75.90kg, concealed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags in a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom.
According to Babafemi, the consignment was monitored after its arrival on September 29. A clearing agent, 54-year-old John Edrah, was arrested on September 30, while an Uber driver, 54-year-old Taofiq Ajibola, was apprehended at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi, while attempting to collect one of the bags.
He said two other suspects, Adetunji Adebayo and 48-year-old clothing trader Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, were arrested while collecting the remaining five bags.
Babafemi stated that Ajibola claimed a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, had sent the drugs, while Dosunmu allegedly said his consignment came from another UK-based contact, Yusuf.
In Cross River State, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives arrested 46-year-old Adama Inuwa during a raid on Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on October 4. The operation led to the seizure of 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100kg, alongside 17.15kg of cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, he said operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5, recovering 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83kg. Three suspects-52-year-old Monday Orji, 40-year-old Monday Lawal and 20-year-old Precious Uduegele-were arrested.
Babafemi added that a separate operation at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, Benin City, led to the arrest of 26-year-old Ojugo Mercy, with 989 grammes of Loud, 13 grammes of Colorado and 83 grammes of methamphetamine recovered.
He said NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel of the agency’s commands at Lagos, MMIA, Port Harcourt, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo and Plateau for their professionalism and intelligence-led operations.
Marwa, according to Babafemi, urged officers to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with other measures to address the illicit drug trade.