NDLEA Seizes Tramadol Hidden in Cosmetics at Rivers Airport, Former Beauty Queen Surrenders

NDLEA Seizes Tramadol Hidden in Cosmetics at Rivers Airport, Former Beauty Queen Surrenders

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recovered 1,490 tramadol pills disguised in cosmetics packaging at Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.

According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the seizure occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 27, when a suspect was apprehended attempting to board a Cronos airline flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The pills were concealed in various cosmetic brands inside his luggage.

Babafemi noted that the suspect tried to bribe NDLEA officers to avoid arrest, but his attempt was refused, and he was taken into custody for further investigation.

In a separate case, a former beauty queen, wanted by the NDLEA for drug-related offenses, has surrendered to the agency after eight months in hiding. The suspect, who was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of the Queen Christmas Foundation, turned herself in to the Lagos Command of the NDLEA.

She had been declared wanted in January following a raid at her Lekki residence on Jan. 24, where NDLEA operatives discovered 606g of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis. Other items recovered included drug packaging materials, an electronic weighing scale, and a black RAV 4 SUV with the license plate Lagos KSF 872 GQ.

The former beauty queen claimed to have been hiding in Akure, Ondo State, since escaping arrest earlier this year. Babafemi confirmed that she surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and is now facing prosecution.

These incidents highlight the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and the illicit drug trade