Woman caught concealing cocaine inside luggage wall in Lagos

Abdullateef Fowewe

Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended a 43-year-old make-up artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, for her attempt to smuggle 2.20 kilograms of cocaine to India.

The arrest according to a statement on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, was a result of credible intelligence.

Babafemi revealed that NDLEA agents monitored Adekoya closely and allowed her to check in her luggage before intercepting her at the boarding gate for her Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.

A thorough search uncovered two large parcels of cocaine, weighing a total of 2.20kg, cleverly hidden within the walls of her suitcase.

The statement says, “A 43-year-old female make-up artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary who claimed to be travelling to India for a fibroid surgery has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos after 2.20 kilograms of cocaine were discovered factory fitted in the walls of her bag.

“The suspect was arrested on Monday 16th June 2025 based on credible intelligence. Under surveillance, Adekoya was allowed to check in her luggage and arrested at the point of boarding her Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha. When her luggage was searched, two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.20kg were found concealed in the walls of the suitcase she was carrying.

“In her statement, she claimed she embarked on the trip for financial benefits but under the pretext of going to India for surgery to remove fibroid from her stomach. Further investigation revealed the suspect was recruited and funded by a drug baron currently at large, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi who owns Rockford Hotel located in Sango area of Ogun state while he lives at Igbe Laara in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state.”