NDLEA arrests a family of 4 suspected drug traffickers, friend in Lagos

*Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrest businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary Uchenna, their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, as well as their family friend for illicit drug trafficking

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

For engaging in illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse, the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a businessman identified as Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary Uchenna, and their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna.

The NDLEA also nabbed their family friend, Okoro Elijah, for allegedly running a major illegal drug distribution network in Lagos.

Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, who disclosed this in a statement Sunday, July 6, 2025, said arrest of the four suspects followed a series of operations by security agencies.

The statement also noted that the couple were first apprehended June 13 this year by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), in Ojo area of Lagos State, and transferred to the NDLEA along with 277.5kg of skunk.

Babafemi stated that investigation revealed the family business was still operational, leading to a raid on their home and a packing store July 1, where the operatives recovered additional 231 kg of skunk.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy said: “A businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary Uchenn, along with their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, as well as their family friend, Okoro Elijah, have been taken into custody after an investigation revealed they run a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos.

“The couple were first arrested on Friday, 13th June by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), in Ojo area of the state and transferred to NDLEA along with 277.5kg skunk.”

The agency explained: “While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was going on in his house.

“This led to a raid of their home and a packing store where 231kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday, 1st July.”

He further said: “Three persons arrested during the raid include their two daughters: Ngozi Uchenna and Blessing Uchenna, as well as their family friend Okoro Elijah, who was running the family business in the absence of the couple.”

Babafemi disclosed the anti-narcotics regulatory agency as well intercepted cocaine consignments concealed in lipsticks and property title documents going to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

The illicit drug consignments were recovered from cargo being prepared for shipment at a courier company Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Lagos, by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) attached to the logistics firm.

The statement noted: “In another operation at the Lagos airport, a total of 52 pieces of the travellers cheques concealed in children’s books, worth 17,700,000 Australian Dollars, going to Malaysia through Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight, were Friday, 4th July intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the airport while a freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed has been arrested.

“The travellers’ cheques are suspected to be counterfeit, and the suspect will be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation.”