Cocaine smuggling suspect arrested by NDLEA at Lagos airport as nationwide operations lead to major drug seizures and arrests

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, over alleged Cocaine Smuggling after operatives intercepted 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine concealed in shirts and towels at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

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The agency said the 41-year-old suspect was apprehended upon his arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight that transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said a detailed search of the suspect’s luggage uncovered 14 shirts and towels impregnated with liquid cocaine.

According to the agency, the items had been dried and carefully ironed in an attempt to evade security screening procedures.

“Abugu was arrested upon arrival from Brazil on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A detailed search of his luggage revealed 14 towels and shirts soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and neatly ironed,” Babafemi said.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for more than 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant.

He claimed he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items for his business abroad.

The arrest formed part of a series of operations carried out by the NDLEA across several states as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks.

In Abia State, operatives took custody of a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, who was allegedly found with 1.8 kilograms of skunk in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. She was reportedly intercepted by a local vigilante group before being handed over to the agency.

In Rivers State, NDLEA officers arrested 28-year-old Abubakar Usman during a raid in Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt. The agency said various illicit substances, including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol and diazepam, were recovered from the suspect.

Further operations in Delta State led to the arrest of 36-year-old Onya Jude at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area. Operatives allegedly recovered 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside five gas cylinders.

In Gombe State, two suspects identified as Jamilu Idris, also known as Jama, and Aminu Abdullahi, alias Momo, were arrested with 2.738 kilograms of skunk.

Babafemi also disclosed that a female suspect, Ngozi Gaius, was apprehended along the Zaria-Kano Road with 6,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg.

In Kwara State, operatives intercepted 304 kilograms of skunk concealed in 600 compressed blocks hidden inside a Toyota Jeep.

One of the largest seizures recorded during the week occurred in Taraba State, where NDLEA officers raided the warehouse of a suspected drug dealer identified as Ali Adamu in Bali Local Government Area.

The operation led to the recovery of 1,121.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa packed in 63 jumbo bags, according to the agency.

In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives on patrol along the Gwagwalada Expressway arrested Emmanuel Nnadi and reportedly recovered more than 30,000 tramadol pills, pregabalin capsules, molly tablets and hundreds of bottles of codeine-based syrup.

The agency also announced the recovery of a massive consignment of Ghana Loud weighing 1,102 kilograms around Alaba International Market in the Ojo area of Lagos State.

Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said it continued to intensify its War Against Drug Abuse campaign through awareness programmes targeting schools, communities, workplaces and traditional institutions across the country.

Commenting on the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the arrests and seizures.

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According to Babafemi, Marwa praised personnel for maintaining momentum in both drug supply reduction efforts and public enlightenment campaigns, urging them to build on recent successes in the fight against illicit drugs and trafficking.