The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested an ex-convict, Nwobodo Basil, alongside three cargo agents over an attempt to export cocaine concealed in liquid starch sachets to the United Kingdom.

The NDLEA disclosed that 75 parcels of cocaine weighing a total of 1.50 kilogrammes were recovered from factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The agency made this known in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the statement, three cargo agents identified as Jubrin Hassana, Kuku Oluwasegun, and Igwe Jane were arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in connection with the intercepted drug consignment.

Babafemi stated that further investigation linked the shipment to a 37-year-old suspect, Nwobodo Basil, who was arrested the following day at a relaxation centre in Ikeja, Lagos.

The statement partly read, “A notorious drug trafficker, Nwobodo Basil, previously convicted of dealing in 30.10kg of methamphetamine in 2023, has again been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA following the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilogrammes concealed in factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch heading to the United Kingdom at the export shed of the MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

“Three cargo agents—Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun, and Igwe Chioma Jane—involved in the attempt to export the consignment to the UK were swiftly arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, before further investigations unravelled 37-year-old Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil as the mastermind.

“He was arrested in a follow-up operation on Sunday, December 21, at a popular relaxation centre in Ikeja, where he went on a date with his girlfriend.”

Babafemi further revealed that NDLEA records showed that Nwobodo had previously been arrested in May 2023 over the seizure of 30.10 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers and destined for London.

“He was subsequently arraigned at a Federal High Court in charge number FHC/L/337C/2023, convicted, and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N7,000,000.00, along with one month of community service, with effect from December 4, 2023. He paid the fine and soon after returned to the same crime,” he said.

The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that a 65-year-old driver was arrested in Gombe State with a large quantity of opioids, while a businessman was apprehended in Lagos over an earlier seizure of cannabis at the Tincan Seaport.

“In Gombe State, a 65-year-old driver, Sada’u Mohammed, was arrested while conveying 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 27,900 pills of tramadol, and other opioids along the Gombe–Biu highway, heading to Biu in Borno State.

“Meanwhile, a 47-year-old businessman, Ignatius Egbochie (alias Brown), wanted in connection with the seizure of 56 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 26kg at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives.

“The illicit drug consignment was seized on December 10 during a joint examination of a container by the NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies. A follow-up operation by NDLEA operatives on December 19 led to the arrest of Ignatius in Apapa,” the statement said.

Babafemi added that in separate operations across several states, NDLEA operatives destroyed drug warehouses and seized large quantities of cannabis between December 21 and 25, 2025, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects.

“In another successful operation, NDLEA operatives on Monday, December 22, set ablaze tons of skunk, a strain of cannabis, and wooden warehouses in Ara Forest, Ara-Ekiti, where 638 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance were also recovered.

“No fewer than 1,205 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 883.1kg, were recovered from three Toyota Camry vehicles intercepted by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Igara–Auchi Road, Edo State, on Monday, December 22.

“In Cross River State, raid operations conducted on Sunday, December 21, at Agoi-Ibami community, Yakurr Local Government Area, led to the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of various quantities of skunk.

“They include Freedom Jonah Akpama, 27, with 671kg; David Itam David, 30, with 89kg; and Nelson Arikpo Osam, 26, with 148kg,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, last Sunday, The PUNCH reported that NDLEA operatives arrested one Shodunke Simbiat, a fugitive member of a cocaine trafficking syndicate who concealed illicit drugs in her children’s room.