The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a large shipment of cocaine cleverly concealed inside the heads of imported dry stock fish, popularly known as “Okporoko,” and arrested a suspected syndicate leader linked to international drug trafficking operations.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the breakthrough followed intelligence reports on the group’s cross-border criminal network, particularly targeting routes to India.
Operatives of the NDLEA’s Strategic Command at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport carried out a coordinated sting operation in the Ojo area of Lagos on Thursday, March 19, 2026. During the raid, officers apprehended a 36-year-old suspect, Akputa Dickson Ejike, believed to be a key figure in the trafficking syndicate.
A search of three large bags in his possession led to the discovery of 237 wraps of cocaine hidden inside the fish heads. The seized drugs weighed a total of 5.80 kilograms and were reportedly destined for Delhi, India.
