NDLEA Busts Woman Using Fake Pregnancy to Smuggle 3,200 Tramadol Capsules to Benin

Kano businesswoman caught at Seme border with opioids hidden in contraband “baby bump”

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a woman attempting to smuggle thousands of Tramadol capsules into Cotonou, Benin Republic, by disguising them inside a fake pregnancy.

The suspect, Rabi Muhammad, 35, was intercepted at the Seme border on Monday, February 16, 2026, as she attempted to cross into Benin.

Smuggling attempt foiled

According to NDLEA officials, officers grew suspicious after noticing her unusually large stomach at the border departure area. A search revealed that Muhammad was not pregnant.

The agency explained that she had strapped a pink calabash to her abdomen to simulate a baby bump. Inside the contraption, authorities found 3,200 capsules of Tramadol, which she allegedly intended to sell in Cotonou.

NDLEA spokesman Sadiq Muhammad posted a video on Facebook showing the woman being searched and the fake pregnancy removed, exposing the hidden drugs.

Ongoing border security operations

The arrest forms part of the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to curb drug trafficking through Nigeria’s borders and airports, particularly targeting the illicit flow of opioids and cocaine.

Authorities reiterated their commitment to identifying and stopping traffickers who attempt to exploit innovative concealment methods, warning that such attempts carry severe legal consequences.