Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 34-year-old South African woman, Qhina Beauty, with 36.65 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The agency also arrested a 62-year-old Nigerian-American grandmother, Anetor Gloria Ubong, after discovering 9.45kg of high-grade cannabis, popularly known as loud, in her luggage upon arrival from the United States.
The arrests formed part of a series of anti-drug operations conducted by the NDLEA across several states, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis, pharmaceutical opioids and other illicit substances.
The agency disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
South African Woman Arrested With 36.65kg of Cocaine in Lagos
According to the NDLEA, Qhina was arrested at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on October 7, 2026, while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa via Doha.
A search of her two travel bags reportedly led to the discovery of 30 blocks of cocaine weighing 36.65kg. The drugs were allegedly concealed with dried pepper, wrapped in cellophane tape and packed into seven separate parcels.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly told investigators that she arrived in Nigeria on September 30 specifically to collect the consignment.
She allegedly claimed that another South African woman recruited her for the operation and promised to pay her R20,000 upon successful delivery.
The suspect also identified two other alleged members of the syndicate, including an individual based in the United States and a car dealer in Lagos.
Further investigations reportedly led to the arrest of a 46-year-old car dealer, Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, on October 14 at Apple Junction, Ago Palace Way, Lagos, following surveillance at his residence in Shasha.
The NDLEA said Umunnakwe admitted receiving Qhina at the airport, lodging her at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin and subsequently moving her to Cynarisso Hotel near the airport ahead of her departure.
US-Based Nigerian Grandmother Arrested With 9.45kg of Loud
In a separate operation on Wednesday, October 21, NDLEA operatives arrested Anetor Gloria Ubong, a 62-year-old realtor based in Richmond, Texas, upon her arrival at the Lagos airport on a United Airlines flight from Houston.
Ubong, who reportedly holds both Nigerian and United States passports, was found with 18 parcels of loud weighing 9.45kg concealed inside two checked-in boxes.
The agency said the cannabis was hidden with gift-wrapping paper inside one of the boxes.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly claimed that her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law had delivered the box to her home in the United States for onward delivery in Nigeria to her daughter’s fiancé, identified as Jibola.
NDLEA Seizes Thousands of Drug Pills in Lagos
Meanwhile, operatives of the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit arrested 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat in the Eti-Osa area of Lagos on Friday, October 23.
The agency said the operation led to the recovery of 5,820 pills of diazepam, 780 tablets of tramadol, 3.7kg of skunk and 230.25 litres of skuchies.
In another operation in Delta State, a 51-year-old suspect, Peter Ugochukwu, was arrested in Warri with a large quantity of pharmaceutical opioids and other substances.
The seized items included 29,350 capsules of tramadol, 6,620 tablets of tramadol 200mg, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 tablets of Rohypnol, 3,500 tablets of diazepam, 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection.
Other substances reportedly recovered from the suspect included tramadol 225mg, Molly and Cocodamol.
According to the NDLEA, the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State transferred Ugochukwu to its custody alongside a white Hummer bus.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 46-year-old Helen Bakporo Samson, a physically challenged woman, at Enhere Junction, Warri, on Monday, October 19, with 6kg of skunk.
Cannabis Seizures in Oyo, Kano, Taraba and Bauchi
In Oyo State, operatives arrested 41-year-old Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi in the Adamasingba area of Ibadan on October 19.
The NDLEA said the suspect had allegedly evaded arrest after officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis from his residence on September 16.
In Kano State, a raid on the Gerawa area on Thursday, October 22, resulted in the arrest of 30-year-old Murtala Lawan and the seizure of 159 blocks of cannabis weighing 97.2kg.
Similarly, operatives at the Lankaviri checkpoint in Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba State arrested 39-year-old Raiyanu Misa on Friday, October 23, with 95 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 60.175kg.
On the same day, the Nigeria Police Force handed over another suspect to the NDLEA following his arrest in Dakka village, Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, with 112 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 81.49kg.
In Bauchi State, officers arrested 45-year-old Jamilu Mustapha, also known as Last Card, at Nasaru town in Ningi Local Government Area on Wednesday, October 21.
The operation reportedly led to the recovery of 379kg of cannabis packed in seven jumbo sacks.
NDLEA Arrests Suspect With 64,000 Opioid Pills in Niger
In Niger State, 26-year-old Emmanuel Ekene was arrested on October 19 along the Sabo-Kainji Road in Borgu Local Government Area.
The agency said 64,000 opioid pills, including tramadol and diazepam, were recovered during the operation.
The seizure formed part of the agency’s wider crackdown on the distribution and trafficking of illicit drugs across the country.
583kg of Cannabis Recovered From Ondo Farm
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a farm at Board-Ala, Akure South, on Tuesday, October 20.
The operation reportedly led to the recovery of 56 bags of abandoned cannabis weighing 583kg.
In Edo State, two cannabis farms located in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area, were destroyed on Sunday, October 18.
The NDLEA estimated that the farms could yield 2,023.14kg of cannabis. Operatives also reportedly burnt 450kg of processed cannabis at the site and removed another 97kg as exhibits.
In a related operation at Ewe community in Owan West, officers arrested 42-year-old Mary Edokhai with 35kg of cannabis.
