Abuja — A 41-year-old ex-convict and Malaysian returnee, Ndubuisi Udatu, also known as Richard, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while attempting to traffic 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside two giant music speakers.
According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was intercepted at a checkpoint in Namtari, along the Ngurore-Yola road in Adamawa State, on Monday, April 7. He was reportedly en route to distribute the illicit consignment in Yola, Mubi, and across the border into Cameroon.
“Ndubuisi was travelling in a commercial bus when NDLEA officers discovered four parcels of methamphetamine and a cash exhibit of ₦22,300 hidden within the speakers,” the statement said.
Babafemi added that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to returning to Nigeria to resume his drug trafficking operations after serving a jail sentence for a similar offence in Malaysia.
Trans-Border Seizures and Other Arrests
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives in collaboration with Nigeria Customs Service personnel at the Mfum border in Cross River State arrested another trans-border drug trafficker, 35-year-old Odoh Peter Ikechukwu. He was caught attempting to smuggle a large cache of opioids totaling 395 kilograms, including 8,740 ampoules of controlled medications.
The drugs seized included 1,080 ampoules of fentanyl injection, 2,160 of morphine sulphate, 3,010 of phenobarbital sulphate, 2,160 of pethidine, and 330 of midazolam—all of which are highly regulated pharmaceuticals with abuse potential.
In Kano State, operatives arrested 27-year-old Aliyu Ibrahim in the Bachirawa area on Friday, April 11, with 25,600 pills of tramadol (225mg and 250mg), along with 20 ATM cards suspected to be linked to drug transactions. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of 48-year-old Gambo Lawan at Wazobia Motor Park in Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, connected to a separate seizure of 8,960 tramadol pills.
In Niger State, NDLEA officers along the Mokwa-Jebba road intercepted 124 kilograms of skunk—a potent strain of cannabis—hidden in 11 jumbo bags inside a Lexus vehicle driven by 58-year-old Ademiluyi Adedapo Collins.
Agency Reaffirms Commitment
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), praised the operatives for their vigilance across Adamawa, Cross River, Kano, Niger, and the FCT. He urged continued dedication in dismantling drug cartels and emphasized the agency’s dual focus on enforcement and preventive advocacy.
“These arrests show the resilience and coordination of our operations. We remain fully committed to securing our communities from the harmful effects of illicit drugs,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA continues to warn traffickers that Nigeria will not serve as a transit hub or destination for drug-related crime, reiterating its zero-tolerance policy across all fronts.