NDLEA Nabs Two Drug Kingpins, Seizes Massive Illicit Drug Consignments
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, arresting two major drug kingpins at Nigeria’s busiest airports and intercepting large consignments of illicit substances across multiple states.
The first suspect, Onyekwonike Elochuckwu Sylvanus, also known as Kargbo Mohamed Foday, was caught at the Port Harcourt International Airport upon arrival from Doha via Abuja.
Using dual Nigerian and Sierra Leonean identities, Sylvanus had swallowed 62 wraps of heroin, later excreting them under observation.
Investigations revealed his long-standing involvement in cross-border drug trafficking between Asia and West Africa.
The second trafficker, James Herbert Chinoso, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, upon returning from Madagascar via Addis Ababa.
A body scan confirmed he had ingested 63 wraps of heroin, weighing 909 grams, which he later excreted.
Chinoso admitted to entering the drug trade after his phone accessories business in Liberia failed.
Nationwide Crackdown on Drug Shipments
Beyond the airport busts, NDLEA operatives intercepted:
2.82kg of “Loud” cannabis from the U.S. at a Lagos courier firm
80 ampoules of pentazocine injection concealed in cartons bound for Canada
15,396 tramadol pills hidden inside a gas cylinder in Kano
65 parcels of Colorado cannabis (1.6kg) heading to Jigawa from Kogi
Several suspects, including Choima Okeke (35) and Salisu Basiru (33), were arrested in connection with these smuggling attempts.
Meanwhile, NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, sensitising students, religious groups, and communities nationwide, with outreach programmes in schools across Lagos, Kano, Ebonyi, and Cross River.
Commending the operatives for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking through enforcement and awareness campaigns.
