NDLEA intercepts 5.80kg cocaine concealed in stockfish, nabs kingpin of syndicate in Lagos
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized 5.80 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in the heads of imported stockfish.
In a statement, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, said the seizure followed intelligence on a trans-border drug trafficking network that particularly ships illicit substances to India.
“The smashing of the drug syndicate followed intelligence on their trans-border criminal activities,” the statement reads.
“This led to a well-coordinated sting operation by operatives of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command of the Agency at the Ojo area of Lagos on Thursday 19th March 2026.
“In the course of the operation, three jumbo size bags were found in possession of the kingpin, 36-year-old Akputa Dickson Ejike.
“A search of the bags led to the recovery of Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven (237) wraps of cocaine buried in the heads of imported dry stock fish locally known as ‘Okporoko’.
“The cocaine pellets have a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms. The consignment was intended for export to Delhi, India.”
