NDLEA Busts India-Bound Businessman With Cocaine Hidden Inside Luggage at Lagos Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, after allegedly discovering 1.55kg of cocaine concealed inside his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

The suspect was reportedly arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the cocaine was hidden inside the walls and railings of the suspect’s luggage and was discovered during a search.

Businessman Allegedly Sold Assets to Buy Cocaine

Onyebuchi, who reportedly operates a marble business in Lagos, allegedly told investigators that he sold his business and other personal assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment.

The suspect reportedly planned to transport the cocaine to India, where he hoped to sell it for as much as N100 million.

The NDLEA described the case as an example of the financial risks and desperation associated with the illegal drug trade.

The suspect remains in custody and is expected to face prosecution, according to the agency.

NDLEA Seizes N2.6bn Worth of Codeine in Lagos

In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse inside a residential compound in the Ago Palace area of Okota.

The operation, conducted between August 7 and 8, resulted in the seizure of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, with an estimated value of more than N2.6 billion.

Operatives also raided the residence of an alleged drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, in Ipaja Estate.

During the operation, the agency recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, reportedly worth about N972 million. A Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Corolla were also recovered.

Major Seizures Recorded Across States

The NDLEA said additional arrests and drug seizures were recorded in Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Plateau, Kano and Edo states.

In Kwara, two suspects were arrested after 55.96kg of skunk was allegedly recovered from a truck in Ilorin.

In Oyo, operatives intercepted a vehicle along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and recovered thousands of ampoules of pentazocine and tramadol injections.

Delta State operatives also reported the seizure of more than 124,000 tramadol pills, alongside codeine syrup, rohypnol, diazepam and injectable drugs.

In Plateau State, officers recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a tramadol-based product, from a vehicle along the Riyom-Jos Road.

Nearly 729,000 Opioid Pills Seized in Kano

Kano recorded one of the largest seizures during the operations, with six suspects arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road.

The NDLEA said officers recovered 728,958 pills containing tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids.

The haul also included 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain.

Another operation in Kumbotso Local Government Area resulted in the seizure of 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg, with two suspects arrested.

Cannabis Farms Destroyed in Edo

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed more than 4.6 tonnes of skunk from two cannabis farms covering about 1.85 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

One suspect was arrested during the operation.

Another raid on suspected drug joints in Benin City led to the arrest of a 28-year-old man, with officers allegedly recovering 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine.

Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, holding sensitisation programmes for students and staff in Kano and Lagos.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel involved in the operations across the affected states.

Marwa also praised officers for maintaining what he described as a balance between efforts to reduce the supply of illicit drugs and campaigns aimed at reducing drug demand.