In its ongoing war against drug trafficking in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant arrests and seizures, including the apprehension of a 24-year-old Thai woman, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, attempting to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud (a synthetic strain of cannabis) weighing 46.60 kilograms. Wimonnat was arrested on February 20, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after NDLEA operatives discovered the illicit consignment in her luggage. The suspect confessed to being hired by a drug cartel, promising her $3,000 for the successful delivery of the drugs into Nigeria.
The NDLEA also thwarted a syndicate’s attempt to ship 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud, weighing 42.2 kg, to London. The shipment was concealed in crates, and three suspects were arrested in connection with the crime. The mastermind, Samuel Bitris, was later arrested in Lagos.
In another major operation on February 20, the NDLEA intercepted 49,000 tramadol pills at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, in collaboration with the Customs Service and other security agencies. The Nasarawa Command also seized 517 kg of skunk on February 22, while Niger State operatives arrested two suspects with 62.7 kg of skunk on February 20.
The NDLEA’s efforts are backed by its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which conducts sensitization lectures across schools and communities. The agency’s Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the officers for their success, highlighting the balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and demand reduction.
These operations form part of the NDLEA’s broader strategy, which in 2024 saw the seizure of over 2.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs, the arrest of over 18,500 offenders, and the destruction of over 220 hectares of cannabis farms. The NDLEA has also rehabilitated over 8,200 individuals and conducted more than 3,000 advocacy programs to combat drug abuse.
