THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 50-year-old widow and mother of one for allegedly attempting to traffic 1.3 kilograms of cocaine using a fake pregnancy as cover.
The suspect, Mrs. Ifeoma Ezewuike, said to be the owner of Golden Star Creation, a fashion business in the Ago Palace Way area of Okota, Lagos, was apprehended on Friday, August 22, 2025, at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, while trying to move the consignment to clients in Abuja.
A follow-up raid on her residence uncovered 200 grams of a cutting agent used in processing cocaine.
“In her statement, Ezewuike admitted she inherited the criminal trade from her late husband, who died two years ago. She has also been operating her fashion business for over 20 years,” NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi disclosed in a Sunday statement made available to News Point Nigeria.
The widow’s arrest forms part of a sweeping nationwide operation in which the NDLEA intercepted huge consignments of cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, and other illicit substances across multiple states.
Cannabis Intercepted in Lagos: On August 19, officers seized 90 parcels of “loud” cannabis, weighing 48.6kg, imported from the United States and concealed in three cartons of kitchen sinks at a courier company.
Adamawa Raid: Acting on intelligence, operatives stormed the home of notorious dealer Idris Garba in Yola on August 22. Though Garba escaped, his associate, Boniface Nnaji (55), was arrested while trying to flee.
Authorities recovered a Toyota Thundra Jeep loaded with 354,480 pills of tramadol and other drugs, as well as a Toyota Yaris car.
Kogi State Interception: On August 20, NDLEA operatives arrested Neche Okonkwo at Idah waterside, Kogi State, with 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 diazepam injections.
He had ferried the consignment across River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra.
Taraba Operation: In collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), NDLEA destroyed 7,500kg of cannabis on three hectares of farmland in Dadin Kowa village, Bali, and seized 901kg from a warehouse in Uzebba, Edo. A 54-year-old woman, Fodo Stella Sunday, was arrested.
Edo State Crackdown: On August 20, officers destroyed 14,233.37kg of cannabis across four plantations covering 5.7 hectares in Ebule Forest, Owan West LGA.
Delta State Destruction: On August 21, operatives with military support destroyed 25,500kg of cannabis cultivated on four plantations measuring 10.2 hectares in Emu-Obiogu community, Ndokwa West LGA.
Ondo State Operation: On the same day, the agency destroyed 25,025kg of cannabis on three farms spanning 10.01 hectares at Asolo Camp, Uso area.
The NDLEA’s latest operations underscore its relentless crackdown on drug cartels, with Babafemi stressing that traffickers are becoming more desperate and inventive in their concealment methods.
From fake pregnancies to courier smuggling and large-scale plantations, the agency has vowed to pursue all criminal networks fueling Nigeria’s narcotics trade.
“These seizures and arrests highlight the NDLEA’s renewed determination to dismantle drug cartels, safeguard public health, and protect communities,” Babafemi said.