Ugandan Woman Arrested With 87 Cocaine Wraps Hidden In Private Parts
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
A trip to Nigeria for a church prayer session has ended in a major drug trafficking scandal for a 34-year-old Ugandan woman, after she was allegedly caught attempting to smuggle 87 wraps of cocaine hidden around her pelvic region.
The woman, identified as Farida Nansubuga, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to board a flight to Uganda.
According to the NDLEA, Nansubuga arrived in Nigeria on 29 October 2026 alongside members of her church for a prayer session at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos.
While the rest of the delegation returned to Uganda, she allegedly stayed behind to collect a cocaine consignment for a friend identified only as Joy.
Her journey back home was cut short on Tuesday, 3 November, when NDLEA operatives, working with aviation security personnel, intercepted her at the Terminal 2 screening point of the airport.
A secondary search conducted in a private screening room led to the recovery of 87 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.15 kilogrammes.
The drugs were allegedly strapped around her pelvic region and concealed beneath two layers of underwear.
During preliminary questioning, Nansubuga reportedly told investigators that a contact in Nigeria arranged a vehicle to take her to a hotel, where an unidentified man handed over the consignment.
She allegedly expected to receive at least $1,000 for successfully delivering the drugs in Uganda.
The arrest was part of a series of operations across the country in which the NDLEA intercepted illicit drugs destined for the United Kingdom and Australia and recovered large quantities of opioids, cannabis and substances used in producing synthetic cannabis.
N900m opioid shipment intercepted
In another major seizure at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at about N900 million.
The consignment, which arrived from Ahmedabad, India, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on 3 November, was declared as Paracetamol 500mg.
A joint examination with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies on 6 November revealed that ten of the eleven cartons contained the opioid tablets, while the remaining carton held paracetamol tablets allegedly used to conceal the true contents.
The agency also intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, concealed inside two wooden sofas in a consolidated cargo from Houston, United States.
Two suspects, including a freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, and a 34-year-old caterer from Ibadan, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, were arrested in connection with the consignment. Ojo reportedly claimed he was sent by a friend, Taiwo Anuoluwapo Olusegun.
UK-bound synthetic cannabis chemicals uncovered
The NDLEA also dismantled a suspected drug trafficking network involved in importing chemicals used in producing Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, from the United Kingdom.
The operation followed the interception of nine parcels hidden in cartons of snacks labelled “Michael Tea Guy”, which arrived aboard an Air Peace flight on 23 October.
Two parcels contained 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis, while forensic analysis confirmed that the other seven contained chemicals used in manufacturing synthetic cannabis.
A 51-year-old freight agent, Afolabi Abiodun Wale, was arrested while attempting to clear the consignment.
A follow-up sting operation between 26 and 28 October led to the arrest of another 51-year-old suspect, Okwuite Benjamin Ojone, who allegedly came to collect four additional cartons for the same recipient.
A search of the cartons uncovered three parcels weighing 3.30 kilogrammes and eleven plastic bottles containing 16.25 kilogrammes of mostly liquid substances.
The total seizure from the operation comprised 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis and 28.65 kilogrammes of suspected synthetic cannabis chemicals.
Female headwear used to conceal tramadol
In another disturbing discovery, NDLEA operatives intercepted several drug shipments destined for the United Kingdom and Australia through courier companies.
The seizures included 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes, packaged in two cartons bound for the UK.
Operatives also intercepted 296 tablets of Swinol destined for Australia and three separate shipments of tramadol bound for the UK.
The tramadol consignments included 20 capsules from Benin City and 96 capsules from Sapele, Delta State, concealed in vitamin C containers, while 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba were hidden inside female headwear.
Raids yield tonnes of cannabis across states
Beyond the airports and courier facilities, NDLEA operatives carried out coordinated raids and arrests in several states.
In Lagos, a 32-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ali, was arrested at Marine Beach, Apapa, where officers discovered a stockpile of drugs hidden in a small store built inside his apartment.
The exhibits included tramadol, pregabalin, diazepam, codeine and 6.07 kilogrammes of cannabis.
In Ondo State, officers recovered 1,818 kilogrammes of cannabis packed in 148 bags during a raid on Odofin Road, Uso.
Another operation at Board Forest led to the destruction of a one-hectare cannabis plantation, the recovery of 242 kilogrammes of cannabis and the arrest of a 36-year-old suspect, Itoro Linus Akpan.
In neighbouring Ekiti State, a 53-year-old man, Agbo Paul Peter, was arrested at Osin Forest with 216 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds.
Edo State recorded the interception of 201 kilogrammes of cannabis packed in 19 bags inside a Golf saloon car along the Auchi-Ibillo Road. The driver, Abdulmumid Isah, 39, and his passenger, Danako Godwin, 25, were arrested.
Three other suspects were arrested during a raid on a drug joint along Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, with quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis.
In Taraba State, three suspects were arrested at the NDLEA checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area, with 283 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 226.255 kilogrammes within two days.
Enugu State also recorded two major interceptions. A 57-year-old man, Celestine Uzochukwu Ejiakor, was arrested at Eke Obinagu with 44 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.5 kilogrammes.
At Ugwuoba checkpoint, officers arrested another suspect, Godwin Shaapera, with 24,000 capsules of tramadol weighing 13.4 kilogrammes and 697 grammes of ketamine.
In Delta State, operatives arrested Edugua Othuke, 30, at Ozoro with 10.54 kilogrammes of skunk, 9.4 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and a quantity of methamphetamine.
Another suspect, Akpofure Tobore, 34, was arrested at Upper Agbarho, Ughelli, with skunk, tramadol, Rohypnol and laughing gas.
Marwa warns drug cartels against exploiting religious travel
Meanwhile, the NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign continued in schools, worship centres and communities across the country.
The agency cited awareness programmes in Oyo, Ebonyi, Kano and Anambra States, as well as an advocacy visit by its Zone 1 Command to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the Ugandan woman’s arrest as a reminder of the lengths drug cartels would go to recruit couriers.
He warned that traffickers were exploiting even religious journeys and people’s faith to advance their illegal trade.
Marwa urged officers across the agency’s commands to sustain their efforts in disrupting drug supply networks while intensifying public education and drug prevention campaigns.
The latest operations underscore the growing use of international passenger routes, courier services and concealed cargo to move illicit substances across borders, even as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to stop the trade.
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