NDLEA cocaine arrest Abuja airport as operatives intercept 74-year-old man with 11kg of cocaine hidden in food items bound for London

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, for the alleged NDLEA cocaine arrest Abuja airport after discovering 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

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The suspect was apprehended at the departure hall while attempting to board British Airways flight BA082 bound for Heathrow Airport, London, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, officers intercepted the septuagenarian during routine checks and discovered the illicit substance hidden inside his luggage.

“A 74-year-old grandpa, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after a large consignment of cocaine was discovered in foil papers and balloons concealed in his luggage,” the statement said.

Babafemi explained that the suspect claimed he was travelling to London for vacation before the discovery was made.

During a search of the luggage, officials uncovered blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons and hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper.

The agency also disclosed that several arrests and drug seizures were made across different parts of the country during operations over the past week.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman identified as Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while she was allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.

Babafemi said the suspect was with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She reportedly claimed the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was subsequently arrested later the same day.

Investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.

In another operation on Lagos Island, NDLEA officers arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, after recovering 68,000 tramadol pills hidden in a truck allegedly meant for transport to Benin Republic.

A follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the consignment. Officers also recovered a parcel containing 1,000 tramadol tablets prepared for delivery from his shop.

Another raid in the same market resulted in the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin and the recovery of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

In separate operations, NDLEA operatives arrested Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, with 386 kilograms of skunk in Bebeji, and Isah Wako with 282.2 kilograms of the substance in Gwagwalada.

In Edo State, officers raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where they arrested Chinedo Odalonu, 33, destroyed 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two farms and recovered an additional 16.5 kilograms.

At Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers that had been placed on a watch list following intelligence reports.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Buba Marwa, commended officers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Edo states for the series of arrests and seizures.

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Marwa urged the operatives to sustain the relentless crackdown on drug trafficking networks and continue efforts aimed at reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs across the country.