NDLEA Busts Drugs Hidden In Water Purifiers Bound For Netherlands

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of hard drugs ingeniously concealed inside water purification machines imported into Lagos from the Netherlands, as part of a series of operations targeting illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria.

According to information made available by the anti-narcotics agency, operatives uncovered the shipment at a courier facility in Lagos on May 26, 2026. The seized substances included three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grammes of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy. Authorities disclosed that the drugs had been carefully hidden inside the machines in a bid to evade detection, but were successfully intercepted during routine security checks.

In a separate operation in Kaduna State, NDLEA officers arrested a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside a third suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, following the discovery of 100 jumbo bags of skunk at their residence in the Gonin Gora area. The recovered illicit substance weighed approximately 1,246 kilogrammes.

The agency also reported another significant breakthrough in Kaduna on the same day when operatives patrolling the Abuja-Kaduna highway intercepted a suspect identified as Sunusi Musa. He was allegedly found transporting 380 rounds of military-grade 7.62mm ammunition intended for delivery to Katsina State. The suspect and the recovered ammunition have since been transferred to the relevant security authorities for further investigation.

Meanwhile, in Niger State, NDLEA personnel acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, where they recovered 457 kilogrammes of skunk. Following the operation, a 46-year-old suspect, Godwin Zakka, was apprehended at his residence in Gbeganu, Minna, in connection with the seizure. Investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals linked to the illegal operation.

In Enugu State, operatives conducting patrols along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling to Taraba State. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 tramadol tablets, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grammes of bromazepam. A suspect, James Maigari Wisdom, was subsequently arrested in connection with the seizure.

Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said it sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign nationwide, taking anti-drug awareness messages to schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities. The outreach programmes were conducted in several institutions, including schools in Cross River, Taraba, Lagos and Anambra states.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for their efforts in disrupting drug trafficking networks and promoting public awareness. He urged personnel across the country to remain committed to the fight against illicit drugs, stressing the need for sustained enforcement and preventive measures.