NDLEA Arrests South African Woman with 36.65kg Cocaine at Lagos Airport

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old South African woman, Qhina Beauty, with 36.65 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The agency also arrested a 62-year-old Nigerian-American woman, Anetor Gloria Ubong, over the alleged importation of 9.45kg of a high-grade cannabis strain known as loud from the United States.

The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said the seizures were part of a series of anti-drug operations conducted across several states.

According to the agency, Beauty was arrested on October 7, 2026, at the airport’s departure hall while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa through Doha.

A search of her two travelling bags reportedly uncovered 30 blocks of cocaine weighing 36.65kg. The drugs were concealed with dried pepper, wrapped in cellophane tape and packed into seven separate parcels.

“Qhina was arrested at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on 7th October 2026 while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa via Doha. A search of her two travelling bags led to the recovery of 30 blocks of cocaine weighing 36.65kg, laced with dried pepper, wrapped in cellophane tape and packed into seven separate parcels,” Babafemi said.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the suspect 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 and promised to pay her 20,000 South African rand upon successful delivery.

“During her interview, she told operatives she arrived in Nigeria on 30th September specifically to pick up the consignment. She said she was recruited by another South African lady, who promised her R20,000 on successful delivery. She claimed she was introduced to two other members of the syndicate: one based in the United States and the other a Lagos-based car dealer,” the statement said.

Babafemi added that investigations led to the arrest of a 46-year-old Lagos car dealer, Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, on October 14 after days of surveillance.

Umunnakwe was reportedly intercepted at Apple Junction, Ago Palace Way, Lagos. According to the agency, he admitted receiving Beauty at the airport, lodging her at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin and later moving her to Cynarisso Hotel near the airport ahead of her departure.

Nigerian-American woman arrested with cannabis

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Ubong on October 21 after she arrived at the Lagos airport aboard a United Airlines flight from Houston, Texas.

Babafemi said Ubong, a realtor based in Richmond, Texas, who holds Nigerian and United States passports, was found with 18 parcels of loud weighing 9.45kg in two checked-in boxes. The substances were allegedly concealed with gift-wrapping paper.

According to the agency, Ubong claimed that her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law delivered the box to her home in the United States for onward delivery in Nigeria to her daughter’s fiancé, identified as Jibola.

“Ubong, a realtor based in Richmond, Texas, who holds both Nigerian and US passports, was arrested following her arrival on a United Airlines flight from Houston.

“A search of her two checked-in boxes uncovered 18 parcels of loud, a synthetic cannabis weighing 9.45kg, concealed with gift-wrapping paper in a box. She claimed the box was delivered to her home in the US by her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law, for onward delivery in Nigeria to her daughter’s fiancé, Jibola,” Babafemi said.

Drug seizures across several states

Beyond the airport arrests, the NDLEA reported additional seizures and arrests in Lagos, Delta, Kano, Taraba, Niger, Bauchi, Ondo, Edo and Oyo states.

In Lagos, operatives of the agency’s special operations unit arrested 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat in the Eti-Osa area on October 23. The operation reportedly yielded 5,820 diazepam pills, 780 tramadol tablets, 3.7kg of skunk cannabis and 230.25 litres of skuchies.

In Delta State, a 51-year-old suspect, Peter Ugochukwu, was arrested in Warri with a large quantity of pharmaceutical drugs and suspected illicit substances.

The agency said the items recovered included 29,350 tramadol capsules, 6,620 tablets of tramadol 200mg, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 Rohypnol tablets, 3,500 diazepam tablets, 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection.

Other substances reportedly recovered from him included tramadol 225mg, Molly and Cocodamol. The suspect was transferred to the NDLEA alongside a white Hummer bus by the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State.

Also in Warri, a 46-year-old physically challenged woman, Helen Samson, was arrested at Enhere Junction on October 19 with 6kg of skunk, according to the agency.

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 41-year-old Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi in the Adamasingba area of Ibadan on October 19. The agency alleged that he had previously escaped arrest after officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis from his residence on September 16.

In Kano State, a raid in the Gerawa area on October 22 led to the arrest of 30-year-old Murtala Lawan and the seizure of 159 blocks of cannabis weighing 97.2kg.

In Taraba State, officers arrested 39-year-old Raiyanu Misa at the Lankaviri checkpoint in Yorro Local Government Area on October 23, with 95 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 60.175kg. On the same day, another suspect was handed over to the agency after being arrested in Dakka Village, Bali Local Government Area, with 112 blocks weighing 81.49kg.

In Niger State, 26-year-old Emmanuel Ekene was arrested along the Sabo-Kainji Road in Borgu Local Government Area on October 19. The NDLEA said 64,000 opioid pills, including tramadol and diazepam, were recovered from him.

In Bauchi State, operatives arrested 45-year-old Jamilu Mustapha, also known as Last Card, in Nasaru town, Ningi Local Government Area, on October 21. The agency reported recovering 379kg of cannabis packed in seven large sacks.

Meanwhile, officers recovered 583kg of abandoned cannabis in 56 bags during a raid on a farm in Board-Ala, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, on October 20.

In Edo State, the agency said two cannabis farms in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area, were destroyed on October 18. The farms were estimated to have a potential yield of 2,023.14kg of cannabis. Officers reportedly burnt 450kg of processed cannabis at the site and took another 97kg as exhibits.

The NDLEA also reported the arrest of 42-year-old Mary Edokhai in Ewe community, Owan West, with 35kg of cannabis.

NDLEA chairman commends operatives

The agency’s chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the affected commands for their vigilance, professionalism and intelligence-led operations.

Marwa urged NDLEA personnel nationwide to sustain efforts against drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The agency said the operations formed part of its continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent the distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substances across the country.