Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 34-year-old South African woman, Qhina Beauty, and a 62-year-old Nigerian-American grandmother, Anetor Gloria Ubong, over separate drug trafficking cases at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The arrests formed part of nationwide operations that led to the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs and the destruction of cannabis farms across several states.
Qhina was arrested on October 7, 2026, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa through Doha.
A search of her luggage reportedly uncovered 30 blocks of cocaine weighing 36.65 kilograms, concealed with dried pepper and packaged in seven parcels.
During interrogation, she allegedly admitted travelling to Nigeria on September 30 to collect the consignment after another South African woman promised her R20,000 for delivering it.
Further investigations led to the arrest of a Lagos-based car dealer, Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, 46, on October 14. He allegedly admitted arranging Qhina’s accommodation and transportation ahead of her planned departure.
In a separate operation on October 21, NDLEA officers arrested Ubong, a realtor based in Richmond, Texas, following her arrival from Houston aboard a United Airlines flight.
Officers reportedly discovered 18 parcels of high-grade cannabis, popularly known as loud, weighing 9.45 kilograms, concealed in gift-wrapped packages.
Ubong claimed the package was given to her in the United States by her daughter and prospective son-in-law for delivery to a relative in Nigeria.
Nationwide Operations Yield More Seizures
In Lagos, operatives arrested 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat in Eti-Osa on October 23, recovering 5,820 diazepam pills, 780 tramadol tablets, 3.7kg of skunk and 230.25 litres of skuchies.
In Delta State, 51-year-old Peter Ugochukwu was arrested in Warri with thousands of tramadol capsules, codeine syrup, Rohypnol, diazepam and other controlled pharmaceutical substances.
Another suspect, Helen Bakporo Samson, 46, was arrested in Warri with 6kg of cannabis.
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers apprehended Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi, 41, in Ibadan on October 19, following an earlier operation in which 197.8kg of cannabis was recovered from his residence.
A raid in Kano resulted in the arrest of Murtala Lawan, 30, and the seizure of 97.2kg of cannabis.
In Taraba State, officers intercepted Raiyanu Misa, 39, with 60.175kg of compressed cannabis, while police transferred another suspect arrested with 81.49kg of the substance to the agency.
In Niger State, Emmanuel Ekene, 26, was arrested with 64,000 opioid pills, including tramadol and diazepam.
Similarly, operatives in Bauchi arrested Jamilu Mustapha, popularly known as Last Card, with 379kg of cannabis.
In Ondo State, officers recovered 583kg of cannabis from a farm in Akure South Local Government Area.
The agency also destroyed two cannabis farms in Edo State with an estimated yield of 2,023.14kg, alongside 450kg of processed cannabis. Another suspect, Mary Edokhai, 42, was arrested with 35kg of cannabis.
Marwa Commends Operatives
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programmes in schools and communities across the country.
Chairman and chief executive officer of the agency, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for their vigilance and professionalism.
He urged personnel nationwide to sustain intelligence-driven enforcement efforts against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
