NDLEA Finds Illicit Drugs Hidden in European Water Purifier Machines

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced that its operatives seized illicit drugs hidden inside water purifier machines that were shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the seizure occurred at a Lagos courier company on May 26, according to a statement released on Sunday.

The recovered consignment contained three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, which had been concealed within the water purifier units.

In Kaduna State, NDLEA agents arrested Musa Sunday, Mercy Sunday, and 38‑year‑old Salomi Ezekiel after they recovered 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,246 kilograms from the couple’s residence in the Gonin Gora area on May 24.

On the same day, NDLEA officers patrolling the Abuja‑Kaduna Highway at Jere intercepted 30‑year‑old Sunusi Musa, who was allegedly transporting 380 rounds of 7.62 mm military‑grade ammunition to Katsina State. The suspect and the ammunition were handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

In Niger State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, on May 27. They seized 457 kilograms of skunk and later arrested 46‑year‑old Godwin Zakka at his residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna in connection with the seizure.

Similarly, in Enugu State, NDLEA patrols on the Onitsha‑Enugu Expressway on May 28 intercepted a commercial vehicle bound for Taraba State. A search of the vehicle uncovered 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 grams of bromazepam. James Maigari Wisdom was arrested.

The agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign nationwide, holding awareness programmes in schools and communities. Locations included Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Cross River State; St Patrick’s Memorial College, Wukari in Taraba State; Roman Catholic Mission Nursery and Primary School, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State; and Kings Secondary School, Amawbia in Anambra State.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the officers involved in the operations in Kaduna, Niger and Enugu states, as well as staff from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, for their role in the arrests and seizures.

Marwa urged operatives across the country to maintain efforts to curb drug supply while continuing public sensitisation against drug abuse.