A 34-year-old Ugandan woman, Farida Nansubuga, was arrested at Lagos' Murtala-Muhammed International Airport on November 3, 2026, by agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). According to a statement released by the NDLEA on November 8, 2026, Nansubuga was intercepted at the terminal 2 checkpoint during a joint operation with airport security agents. She was about to board a flight to Uganda.
A preliminary body search revealed a suspicious substance near her pelvic area. Further examination in a private room led to the discovery of 87 packets of cocaine, weighing a total of 1.15 kilograms, attached to her waist and concealed under two layers of underwear. The NDLEA reported that Nansubuga had arrived in Nigeria on October 29, 2026, with members of her church for a spiritual retreat at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos.
The group participated in the religious gathering, after which the other members returned to Uganda. However, Nansubuga chose to stay in Nigeria to collect a shipment of cocaine intended for her home country. During initial questioning, she claimed to have acted on behalf of an acquaintance named Joy, who resides in Uganda. Joy allegedly provided Nansubuga with a contact in Nigeria to facilitate the handover of the cocaine.
According to the NDLEA, Nansubuga stated that a man took her to a hotel on the morning of her departure and handed her the packets of cocaine. He instructed her to hide them under her clothing to evade airport security checks. Nansubuga reportedly expected to receive at least $1,000 upon completing the delivery. The NDLEA did not disclose the identity of the man who provided her with the cocaine.
The President-Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, condemned the incident, highlighting how drug trafficking networks exploit religious travel to recruit individuals to transport narcotics. Marwa emphasized the need for vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat such crimes. The NDLEA is working to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the cocaine trafficking network.
The case underscores the creative methods used by drug traffickers to evade detection. The use of innocent individuals, often unwittingly involved, to transport narcotics is a common tactic employed by trafficking networks. The NDLEA and other law enforcement agencies continue to work together to disrupt and dismantle these networks.
Nansubuga's arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between security agencies in detecting and preventing drug trafficking. The NDLEA will continue to strengthen its partnerships with other agencies to combat the menace of drug trafficking in Nigeria and beyond.
Key points
- A 34-year-old Ugandan woman was arrested at Lagos airport with 87 packets of cocaine concealed in her underwear.
- The woman, Farida Nansubuga, claimed to have acted on behalf of an acquaintance named Joy, who resides in Uganda.
- The incident highlights the creative methods used by drug traffickers to evade detection and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
