NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks

ESTHER SALIFU, Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a fresh drug smuggling tactic involving cocaine concealed in lipsticks and a property title document, both intercepted in Lagos en route to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

This was disclosed in a statement signed on Sunday by Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi.

Babafemi noted that NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation made the discovery at a logistics firm on Thursday.

The NDLEA described the method as a “desperate and deceptive attempt” by traffickers to evade detection, vowing to stay ahead of evolving smuggling tactics.

Babafemi said “A total of 420 grams of cocaine, factory-fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks, were seized en route to the UK, while another 280 grams of the same drug were found hidden inside a Certificate of Occupancy being shipped to Saudi Arabia”.

The NDLEA described the method as a “desperate and deceptive attempt” by traffickers to evade detection, vowing to stay ahead of evolving smuggling tactics.

In a separate operation, Babafemi said Ajetsibo Emami, a notorious drug kingpin, popularly known as Warri Kinsman, was arrested in Lagos on June 28 after a three-day operation that dismantled his drug trafficking network.

According to NDLEA, the raid led to the arrest of three other suspects and the seizure of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian loud — a synthetic strain of cannabis — weighing 414.2kg.

The NDLEA official added that operatives also uncovered a family-run drug syndicate in Lagos involving a businessman identified as Ajah Uchenna; Rosemary, his wife; Stella and Ngozi, their daughters; and Okoro Elijah, a family friend.

Babafemi said the couple was first arrested by DSS operatives on June 13 in the Ojo area of Lagos and handed over to the NDLEA with 277.5kg of skunk.

However, while in custody, fresh intelligence revealed that their daughters and family friends had continued operations from their home.

He noted that a follow-up raid on July 1 led to the arrest of the three and the recovery of 231kg of skunk from their residence and a nearby packing store.