NDLEA arrests Ugandan woman with cocaine hidden in underwear

A 34-year-old woman from Uganda, Farida Nansubuga, has been apprehended by agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for attempting to smuggle 1.15 kilograms of cocaine from Nigeria to her home country. The arrest occurred at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as she was boarding a flight to Uganda.

The authorities found 87 wraps of cocaine concealed beneath two layers of her underwear in her pelvic region. According to the NDLEA, Nansubuga arrived in Nigeria on October 29, 2026, along with members of her church for a prayer session in Lagos. However, while the rest of her delegation returned to Uganda, she stayed behind to collect the illicit drugs on behalf of a friend named Joy, who resides in Uganda.

The suspect claimed that she had been instructed to hide the cocaine beneath her clothing to avoid detection by airport security. The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the other members of the delegation had left Nigeria after the prayer session, but Nansubuga remained to allegedly retrieve the cocaine for her friend.

The NDLEA Chairman, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), emphasized that drug cartels exploit religious activities and travel to recruit couriers for their illicit activities. He urged the agency's personnel to continue their efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse.