October 25, 2026
By Stephen Iwuh | Dalena Reporters
LAGOS, Nigeria — Operatives of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 34-year-old South African woman, identified as Qhina Beauty, after allegedly discovering 36.65 kilogrammes of cocaine in her luggage at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The arrest occurred on October 7, 2026, at the airport’s departure hall as Beauty was preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa via Doha, according to a statement released by the NDLEA on Sunday, October 25.
The agency said a search of her two travelling bags uncovered 30 blocks of cocaine weighing a combined 36.65kg. The drugs were reportedly wrapped in cellophane tape, divided into seven separate parcels and concealed with dried pepper.
The seizure has prompted further investigations into an alleged international drug-trafficking network believed to involve individuals in South Africa, the United States and Nigeria.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Beauty told investigators that she arrived in Nigeria on September 30 specifically to collect the drug consignment. She reportedly claimed that another South African woman recruited her and promised to pay her 20,000 South African rand upon successful delivery.
Investigators said the suspect also identified two other individuals allegedly connected to the operation: one based in the United States and another, a Lagos-based car dealer.
The agency subsequently arrested the alleged local accomplice, 46-year-old Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, on October 14 following surveillance operations around his residence in the Shasha area of Lagos.
Umunnakwe was reportedly intercepted at Apple Junction along Ago Palace Way after investigators monitored his movements for several days.
According to the NDLEA, the car dealer admitted receiving Beauty at the airport and arranging accommodation for her at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin. He allegedly later moved her to Cynarisso Hotel near the airport ahead of her planned departure from Nigeria.
The agency said the arrest formed part of continuing efforts to dismantle drug-trafficking networks using Nigeria as a transit point for the movement of illicit substances across international borders.
Authorities have not publicly announced the identities or arrests of the other alleged members identified during the investigation.
Separate Arrest Involving Nigerian-American Woman
In a related operation, the NDLEA arrested a 62-year-old Nigerian-American woman, Anetor Gloria Ubong, after allegedly discovering 9.45kg of high-grade cannabis, commonly known as “loud,” in her luggage at Lagos airport.
Ubong, described by the agency as a realtor based in Richmond, Texas, was arrested on October 21 after arriving in Nigeria aboard a United Airlines flight from Houston.
The NDLEA said a search of her two checked-in boxes uncovered 18 parcels of the substance concealed inside a box covered with gift-wrapping paper.
According to the agency, Ubong told investigators that her daughter and her daughter’s future brother-in-law had delivered the package to her home in the United States. She reportedly said she was expected to transport it to Nigeria and deliver it to her daughter’s fiancé, identified as Jibola.
The agency said the woman holds both Nigerian and United States passports.
Investigators have not publicly detailed whether additional arrests have been made in connection with the cannabis seizure.
NDLEA Reports Wider Drug Seizures Across Nigeria
The two airport arrests were announced alongside a series of drug-control operations conducted by the NDLEA across several Nigerian states, including Lagos, Delta, Kano, Taraba, Niger, Bauchi, Ondo, Edo and Oyo.
In Lagos, operatives arrested 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat in the Eti-Osa area on October 23. The agency reported recovering 5,820 diazepam pills, 780 tramadol tablets, 3.7kg of cannabis known as skunk and 230.25 litres of a locally produced alcoholic or drug-infused mixture referred to as skuchies.
In Delta State, officers arrested 51-year-old Peter Ugochukwu in Warri, where authorities reported recovering thousands of pharmaceutical drug units. The seizures included 29,350 tramadol capsules, 6,620 tramadol tablets, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 Rohypnol tablets and 3,500 diazepam tablets.
The agency also reported recovering hundreds of ampoules of injectable medications and other substances during the operation.
In another operation in Warri, officers arrested 46-year-old Helen Bakporo Samson on October 19 and allegedly recovered 6kg of skunk.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 41-year-old Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi in Ibadan on October 19. The agency said he had previously escaped arrest when officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis from his residence on September 16.
In Kano State, a raid in the Gerawa area on October 22 resulted in the arrest of 30-year-old Murtala Lawan and the seizure of 159 blocks of cannabis weighing 97.2kg.
In Taraba State, operatives arrested 39-year-old Raiyanu Misa at the Lankaviri checkpoint in Yorro Local Government Area on October 23. Officers allegedly recovered 95 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 60.175kg.
The agency also reported that police transferred another suspect to the NDLEA after an arrest in Dakka village, Bali Local Government Area, where 112 blocks of cannabis weighing 81.49kg were allegedly recovered.
In Niger State, officers arrested 26-year-old Emmanuel Ekene along the Sabo-Kainji Road in Borgu Local Government Area on October 19. The agency reported seizing 64,000 opioid pills, including tramadol and diazepam.
In Bauchi State, 45-year-old Jamilu Mustapha, also known as Last Card, was arrested in Nasaru town, Ningi Local Government Area, on October 21. Officers reportedly recovered 379kg of cannabis packed in seven large sacks.
Meanwhile, in Ondo State, the agency said operatives recovered 583kg of abandoned cannabis in 56 bags during a raid on a farm in Board-Ala, Akure South Local Government Area.
In Edo State, officers reportedly destroyed two cannabis farms in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area, on October 18. The farms were estimated to have a potential yield of more than two tonnes of cannabis. The agency said 450kg of processed cannabis was destroyed at the site, while another 97kg was retained as evidence.
A 42-year-old woman, Mary Edokhai, was also arrested in Ewe community, Owan West, with an alleged 35kg of cannabis.
NDLEA Vows to Intensify Anti-Drug Operations
NDLEA chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers involved in the operations, praising their vigilance and intelligence-led enforcement activities, according to the agency’s statement.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain efforts against drug trafficking and substance abuse, stressing the importance of disrupting the networks responsible for distributing illicit substances.
The latest seizures come amid continuing concerns about the movement of cocaine, cannabis and pharmaceutical opioids through Nigeria. Authorities have repeatedly warned that international trafficking networks exploit commercial airports, courier services and other transport channels to move drugs between countries.
The Lagos airport investigation is particularly significant because of the alleged involvement of individuals operating across several jurisdictions. If investigators establish the roles of the people identified by the suspects, the case could lead to further action against a wider trafficking network.
However, the allegations against the arrested individuals have not been proven in court, and the investigation remains subject to the legal process.
The NDLEA has not publicly confirmed the arrest of the alleged South African recruiter or the individual reportedly based in the United States.
For now, the agency says its investigation into the cocaine seizure and the alleged local accomplice is continuing, while separate operations across the country remain focused on intercepting illegal drugs and identifying those involved in their distribution.
The arrests underline the continuing challenge facing Nigerian authorities as they attempt to disrupt domestic and international drug-trafficking operations while preventing the country’s transport infrastructure from being used to move illicit substances across borders.