Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lagos-based automobile spare parts dealer, Levi Ubodoeze, for attempting to export two kilograms of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, announced the arrest in a statement on Sunday.
He said the arrest was made possible through bilateral intelligence sharing and synergy between NDLEA and Angola authorities.
“Barely three weeks after launching a manhunt for him, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested automobile spare parts dealer Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze over a recent attempt to export two kilograms of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola,” the statement read.
“Following the seizure of the cocaine consignment at a logistics company in Aspanda, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos on February 21, 2025, swift contact was made with Angolan authorities, who in turn arrested the supposed recipient of the illicit drug in Angola, after which the identity of the sender was uncovered.
“As a result, NDLEA operatives, on Thursday, March 6, tracked Ubodoeze to his house in the Ago Palace Way area of Isolo, Lagos, where he was caught in a KIA Sport Utility Vehicle trying to escape.”
The agency also recovered a large quantity of phenacetin, a cutting agent for cocaine, weighing 75.50 kilograms, packaged and branded as semolina. A digital scale used for weighing illicit drugs was also recovered from his house.
According to the statement, Ubodoeze reportedly admitted to his involvement in the cocaine trade while selling motor spare parts at Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos.
“He stated that the supposed recipient of the illicit consignment in Angola alerted him the moment he was arrested, hence his bid to evacuate his house and flee from the area shortly before NDLEA officers swooped on him,” Babafemi stated.
He noted that in another operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial truck in the Ojo area of Lagos State on March 7, leading to the arrest of two suspects, China Michael and Igbo Ekene.
The truck said to be transporting 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 128 kilograms, was concealed in the underbelly of the truck.
Three suspects — Osinachi Nwachukwu, Tochukwu Okafor Christian, and John Ugochukwu Mbakwe — were arrested the same day at Mosalasi Junction, Mushin, with 301,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids.
Babafemi added that in Kano State, 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna was arrested on 6th March with 19.2 kilograms of skunk, while another suspect, Musa Bello, 60, was arrested with 212 bottles of codeine-based syrup.