A 24-year-old Thai national, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempting to smuggle 46.60 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, into Nigeria. The illicit consignment, packed in 43 parcels, was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Wimonnat was apprehended on Thursday, February 20, 2025, during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on a Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar. During interrogation, she admitted to being a hired courier, revealing that the drug syndicate which engaged her had promised a payment of $3,000 upon successful delivery.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers foiled another drug trafficking attempt on Friday, February 21, 2025. A shipment of 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud, weighing a total of 42.2 kilograms, was discovered hidden within the walls of crated cartons destined for London, UK. Three suspects, including a freight agent and two dispatch riders, were initially arrested. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the mastermind, Samuel Bitris, at his residence in Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos.
Further enforcement actions extended to Port Harcourt, where NDLEA officers, in collaboration with Customs and other security agencies, intercepted a shipment of 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of Tamol, a tramadol 225mg brand, in a 40ft container at the Onne Port Complex on February 20.
In Nasarawa State, operatives arrested two suspects, Bello Adamu, 40, and Pius Azuka, 42, at Kokona/Keffi with 517 kilograms of skunk on Saturday, February 22. Similarly, in Niger State, Usman Ruwa, 43, and Yunusa Haruna, 45, were caught transporting 62.7 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Corolla along Sabon Asibiti Road, Kontagora, on February 20.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign in various institutions and communities. Awareness lectures were conducted at Maku Grammar School, Tapa, Oyo State; Comprehensive Secondary School, Orogwe, Imo State; Jama’atu Islamiyya Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi State; and Owerri-Aba Primary School, Ugwunagba, Imo State, among others.
Commending the efforts of his officers, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their commitment to both drug supply reduction and demand reduction. He emphasized that these successes demonstrate the agency’s determination to curb drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.
