Lagos, Nigeria – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 24-year-old Thai national, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, for attempting to smuggle 46.60 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, into Nigeria.
According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Wimonnat was intercepted on Thursday, February 20, 2025, during the inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar. NDLEA operatives discovered 43 parcels of the illicit substance concealed in her luggage at Terminal 2’s arrival hall.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to being a hired drug courier and revealed that a drug cartel had promised her a payment of $3,000 upon the successful delivery of the consignment in Nigeria.
NDLEA Intercepts 68 Parcels of Cannabis Bound for UK
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers intercepted 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud, weighing 42.2 kilograms, at the Lagos airport’s export shed. The shipment, intended for London, United Kingdom, was concealed inside the walls of crated cartons.
Three suspects—a freight agent and two dispatch riders—were initially arrested in connection with the illicit cargo. Further investigations led to the arrest of the alleged mastermind, Samuel Bitris, at his residence in Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos.
Meanwhile, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NDLEA officers uncovered 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of Tamol, a tramadol brand, during a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Port Harcourt Port Complex. The consignment, packed with 225mg tramadol pills, was seized from a 40ft container on Thursday, February 20.
Reacting to the series of successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers for their dedication and efficiency in tackling drug trafficking. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced approach between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts against drug trafficking and ensuring Nigeria remains inhospitable for drug cartels.
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