NDLEA Uncovers Cocaine in Lipsticks, Property Documents Bound for UK, Saudi Arabia
In a significant blow to international drug syndicates, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a major interception of cocaine ingeniously concealed within lipsticks and a property title document, destined for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively.
The sophisticated seizures took place on Thursday, July 3, 2025, executed by operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation attached to a logistics firm in Lagos. According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, a total of 420 grams of cocaine were meticulously discovered hidden within 84 pieces of factory-fitted female lipsticks, prepared for export to the UK market. Concurrently, another 280 grams of the same Class A illicit drug were uncovered secreted inside a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) that was being dispatched to Saudi Arabia.
In a related development showcasing the agency's widening net, the NDLEA also disclosed the arrest of businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary Uchenna, their two daughters, Stella and Ngozi Uchenna, and a family friend, Okoro Elijah. Investigations have revealed that this family orchestrated a significant illicit drug distribution network within Lagos. The couple was initially apprehended by the Department of State Security (DSS) on June 13 with 277.5kg of skunk, subsequently transferred to the NDLEA. Further credible intelligence indicated that their illicit family operation continued even after their initial arrest, prompting a raid on their home and a packing store on July 1, where an additional 231kg of skunk was recovered.
The NDLEA remains resolute in intensifying its operations against drug syndicates. The agency is committed to employing enhanced intelligence gathering and sophisticated detection methods to counter the evolving and intricate smuggling techniques employed by drug traffickers. This latest interception serves as a powerful testament to the NDLEA's vigilance and effectiveness in disrupting international drug trafficking routes that either originate from or transit through Nigeria.
