The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made yet another major breakthrough in its relentless war against drug trafficking, as operatives apprehended a Nigerian businesswoman, identified as Okolonkwo Ebere Theresa, who was caught attempting to smuggle a large consignment of methamphetamine cleverly concealed in her underwear at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
In a detailed statement released on Sunday, September 21, 2025, by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was nabbed on Sunday, September 14, after Aviation Security officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), working hand in hand with NDLEA operatives stationed at the Terminal 2 screening point, flagged her during routine checks. The arrest marked another success in the agency’s ongoing partnership with aviation authorities to strengthen the fight against illicit drug smuggling through Nigerian airports.
Meth concealed in bum pad
Upon a thorough search of her luggage and personal effects, security officers discovered that the suspect had ingeniously hidden two neatly wrapped parcels of a suspicious crystalline substance inside her bum pad underwear. The shocking discovery immediately raised suspicions, prompting operatives to subject the material to laboratory analysis. Tests later confirmed that the seized substance was methamphetamine, weighing a total of 1.40 kilograms, a dangerous narcotic often referred to as ‘ice’ on the streets.
NDLEA officials noted that such desperate concealment methods highlight the evolving tactics employed by traffickers, who go to extreme lengths to evade detection. The agency reiterated that despite these tricks, their well-trained operatives, working with aviation security, have consistently thwarted attempts to move dangerous substances through Nigeria’s busiest airport.
Suspect’s confession
During interrogation, the suspect, Ebere, identified herself as a dealer in second-hand clothes and a POS operator based in Enugu State. She reportedly confessed to investigators that she had been recruited by a powerful drug trafficking syndicate to act as a courier. According to her, she was promised a financial reward if she successfully delivered the drugs. Her confession has since opened fresh leads for NDLEA operatives, who have already launched a full-scale investigation aimed at tracking down the criminal network that lured her into the illegal trade and uncovering her intended foreign destination for the drugs.
Authorities believe that the syndicate is part of a larger network targeting vulnerable individuals, especially small-scale business operators, by offering quick financial gains in exchange for drug trafficking. NDLEA warned Nigerians to resist such temptations, as the consequences are often severe, including long prison terms both at home and abroad.
Crackdown continues
The NDLEA has in recent months stepped up its operations at airports, seaports, and land borders across the country, intensifying surveillance measures and deploying advanced screening technology to detect hidden substances. These efforts have led to the seizure of significant quantities of narcotics and the arrest of dozens of traffickers attempting to use Nigeria as a hub for smuggling dangerous drugs into and out of Africa. Officials have consistently emphasized that the agency will not relent until it dismantles all criminal groups exploiting Nigeria’s transportation networks for illegal trade.
The agency, under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd.), has also urged the public to provide credible intelligence that can help identify traffickers and their collaborators. Nigerians have been reminded that drug trafficking not only ruins the lives of those involved but also poses a major threat to the country’s security, health, and international reputation. The NDLEA insists that its ongoing crackdown will continue with greater intensity to ensure that Nigeria does not become a safe haven for criminal drug cartels.
With this arrest, NDLEA has once again demonstrated its determination to safeguard Nigeria’s image and protect future generations from the devastating impact of hard drugs. Officials have assured that Ebere and all those linked to her recruitment will face the full weight of the law once investigations are concluded.