The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a 25.05-kilogramme consignment of methamphetamine hidden in packs of assorted breakfast cereals imported from South Africa through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State. The agency arrested the 56-year-old trafficker, Chinedu Onwude, who has lived in South Africa for over 20 years under a stolen identity. Onwude was apprehended on November 11, 2026, at the arrival hall of Terminal II of the Lagos airport upon his return from South Africa.
A thorough search of Onwude's two travelling boxes led to the recovery of twenty-five parcels of a white crystalline substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine. The parcels had been carefully concealed inside packs of assorted breakfast cereals and cereal-based food products in a bid to beat security screening. According to the NDLEA, Onwude holds both Nigerian and South African passports and has been resident in South Africa for over 24 years.
During a preliminary interview, Onwude confessed that he adopted the alias Omokan Isaac Babatope after using forged documents to gain entry into South Africa and had continued to use that identity ever since. He further stated that he was contracted by a South Africa-based man, Obiora Okoye, to deliver the illicit consignment in Nigeria for a fee of twenty thousand South African rand (R20,000).
In another operation, the NDLEA arrested an American citizen, Greene Khiree, with over a 33.95kg shipment of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from Thailand. Khiree was intercepted at the MMIA on November 11, 2026, and a search of his two abandoned bags revealed sixteen parcels of Loud in each, totalling thirty-two parcels.
The NDLEA also reported several other successful operations nationwide, including the arrest of a 33-year-old man, Taiwo Aderoju, in an intelligence-led operation at Ebute Metta, where 119.71kg of cannabis sativa was recovered from him. In Kaduna State, the agency busted a factory used for the local fabrication of firearms and arrested a 45-year-old man, Sagiru Musa.
The NDLEA's War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities continued across the country, with officers delivering enlightenment lectures to students and staff of various schools and communities. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), lauded the operatives for their vigilance and professionalism in intercepting the methamphetamine concealed in breakfast cereals.
The NDLEA's efforts reflect a broader crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. With the interception of the methamphetamine and other seizures, the agency has demonstrated its commitment to curbing the flow of illicit substances into the country. The NDLEA's operations have resulted in numerous arrests and convictions, and the agency continues to work to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks.
Key points
- The NDLEA seized 25kg of methamphetamine hidden in breakfast cereal packs from South Africa at Lagos airport.
- The agency arrested two suspects, including a 56-year-old trafficker and an American citizen, in separate operations.
- The NDLEA continues to implement its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities across Nigeria.
