The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman, identified as Farida Nansubuga, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 87 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.15kg out of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The suspect was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while preparing to board a flight to Uganda.

According to a statement released by the NDLEA on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Nansubuga was arrested on Tuesday, November 3, at Terminal 2 of the airport.

The agency disclosed that its operatives intercepted her during a joint passenger screening exercise conducted alongside aviation security personnel.

A body search reportedly raised suspicions that she was concealing illegal substances, prompting officers to move her to a private room for a more thorough examination.

Further checks allegedly revealed 87 wraps of cocaine strapped around her pelvic region and concealed beneath two layers of underwear.

During interrogation, Nansubuga reportedly disclosed that she arrived in Nigeria on October 29 with members of her church delegation for a prayer programme at The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), located in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos.

She allegedly remained in the country after the other members of the delegation returned to Uganda, claiming she had been recruited to collect the drugs on behalf of a friend identified as Joy, who resides in Uganda.

The suspect reportedly explained that Joy connected her with an individual in Nigeria who arranged her transportation to a hotel on the day of her departure.

She further claimed that a man at the hotel handed her the cocaine and instructed her to conceal the packages beneath her clothing.

Nansubuga allegedly expected to receive at least $1,000 for delivering the consignment, although she said no specific payment arrangement had been finalised.

Other Drug Seizures At Lagos Airport

In a separate operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526kg and estimated to be worth ₦900 million.

The shipment, which originated from India, was allegedly falsely declared as paracetamol to evade detection.

The consignment arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Ahmedabad on November 3. A joint inspection involving the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies on November 6 revealed that 10 of the 11 cartons contained Tapentadol, while the remaining carton contained paracetamol allegedly used to conceal the illegal drugs.

The agency also intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, a cannabis strain weighing 16.15kg, concealed inside two wooden sofas shipped from Houston, United States.

The shipment arrived aboard a Turkish Airlines flight on November 4. A freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, was subsequently arrested after presenting himself to clear the consignment.

A follow-up operation on November 6 led to the arrest of a 34-year-old caterer from Ibadan, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, who reportedly arrived to collect the package.

Ojo allegedly identified a friend, Taiwo Anuoluwapo Olusegun, as the sender of the shipment.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects over the importation of chemicals allegedly intended for the production of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis substance.

Officers recovered 1.2kg of cannabis and 28.65kg of chemicals concealed inside cartons of snacks and detergent.

Other seizures included 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2kg and destined for the United Kingdom, as well as 296 tablets of Swinol being transported to Australia.

The agency also intercepted three separate shipments of tramadol heading to the UK. The consignments comprised 20 capsules from Benin City, 96 capsules from Sapele in Delta State, and 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba, concealed inside female headwear.

NDLEA Raids Across Several States

Beyond its airport and courier operations, the agency reported several arrests and drug recoveries during coordinated raids across Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Taraba, Enugu and Delta states.

In Lagos, operatives arrested 32-year-old Abubakar Ali at Marine Beach, Apapa, on November 6.

Officers reportedly recovered tramadol, pregabalin, diazepam, codeine and 6.07kg of cannabis from a concealed storage facility inside his apartment.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 1,818kg of cannabis packed in 148 bags during a raid along Odofin Road, Uso.

They also destroyed a one-hectare cannabis farm at Board Forest, recovered an additional 242kg of the substance and arrested a 36-year-old suspect, Itoro Linus Akpan.

In neighbouring Ekiti State, officers apprehended 53-year-old Agbo Paul Peter at Osin Forest, Osin-Ekiti, with 216kg of cannabis and cannabis seeds.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, operatives intercepted a vehicle conveying 19 bags of cannabis weighing 201kg along the Auchi-Ibillo Road.

The operation led to the arrest of the driver, 39-year-old Abdulmumid Isah, and his 25-year-old passenger, Danako Godwin.

The agency also raided a suspected drug distribution centre on Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, where three suspects were arrested and quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis were recovered.

In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects with 283 blocks of cannabis weighing 226.255kg at a checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area, between November 5 and 6.

Similarly, officers in Enugu State arrested 57-year-old Celestine Uzochukwu Ejiakor at the Eke Obinagu checkpoint with 44 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.5kg.

Another suspect, 40-year-old Godwin Shaapera, was arrested at the Ugwuoba checkpoint with 24,000 capsules of tramadol and 697g of ketamine.

In Delta State, the agency also recorded several arrests and seizures involving cannabis, cannabis seeds, methamphetamine, tramadol, Rohypnol and nitrous oxide.

Marwa Reacts To Arrests, Seizures

Meanwhile, the NDLEA said it had continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign across schools, religious institutions and communities nationwide.

Reacting to the latest operations, the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the affected commands for their dedication and commitment.

Marwa described the arrest of the Ugandan woman as evidence of how international drug cartels could exploit religious activities and cross-border travel to recruit unsuspecting individuals as drug couriers.

He urged NDLEA personnel across the country to intensify efforts against drug trafficking and substance abuse.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has praised the reconciliation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Veteran Nollywood actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has clarified that Yoruba people pioneered home-video production in Nigeria but did not start Nollywood.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Owoh made the clarification during an appearance on Curiosity Made Me Ask, a programme hosted by Nigerian skit maker and content creator, Adebayo Abidemi, better known as Bae U.

The actor explained that the name Nollywood was not in existence when he and other filmmakers began producing movies. He noted that the term was introduced much later following discussions among industry stakeholders.

He credited Yoruba filmmakers, particularly veteran filmmaker Hubert Ogunde, with pioneering the home-video tradition and contributing to its popularity in Nigeria.

Owoh also insisted that his earlier comments about the origins of Nollywood had been misunderstood, stressing that he was referring specifically to home-video production rather than the creation of the Nigerian film industry.

He said, “I never said Yoruba started Nollywood. When did Nollywood come out? When we started film, there was no Nollywood as a name.

“Ogunde is not Igbo. I am not telling you that Yoruba started it.

“Yoruba did not start Nollywood; they started home video and the rest.”

Meanwhile, Owoh recently opened up about how his reputation as a comic actor sometimes influences people’s reactions to him, even in serious situations.

According to him, many people have become so accustomed to seeing him in humorous roles that they often laugh at his actions, even when he has no intention of being funny.

He recalled an incident at a gathering where he was invited to lead a prayer. However, shortly after he began praying with words calling on God, some attendees reportedly burst into laughter.