The NDLEA stated that the arrest was made possible by bilateral intelligence sharing and collaboration with Angolan officials.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) detained Levi Ubodoeze, a Lagos-based automobile spare parts merchant, for attempting to export two kilograms of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday. He stated that the arrest was made possible by bilateral intelligence sharing and cooperation between NDLEA and Angolan officials.

“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,” according to a statement.

“Following the seizure of the cocaine consignment at a logistics company in Aspanda, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos on February 21, 2025, prompt contact was made with Angolan authorities, who then arrested the alleged recipient of the illicit drug in Angola, revealing the identity of the sender.” “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 discovered a substantial amount of phenacetin, a cocaine cutting ingredient, weighing 75.50 kg and packaged and marketed as semolina. A digital scale for weighing illicit narcotics was also discovered in his home.

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.

Babafemi went on to say that in Kano State, 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna was arrested on March 6th with 19.2 kg of skunk, while Musa Bello, 60, was caught with 212 bottles of codeine syrup.