By Nkechi Eze
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after discovering 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage as part of a series of major anti-drug operations carried out across the country.
The suspect, identified as Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was arrested at the departure hall of the airport while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 bound for London on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage uncovered blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons.
In a related operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street in Victoria Island while attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis. She was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest.
The suspect told investigators that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day. He reportedly admitted ownership of the illicit substances. Further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.
NDLEA operatives also arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, at Ebute Ero on Lagos Island where 68,000 pills of tramadol (250mg and 225mg) were recovered from a truck being prepared for transportation to Benin Republic.
A follow-up raid at Idumota Market on Lagos Island led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian, after officers discovered a parcel prepared for waybill delivery containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol. Another raid at the same market resulted in the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin and the recovery of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from his shop.
In northern Nigeria, NDLEA officers arrested a 42-year-old suspect, Magaji Dan Azumi, in the Bebeji area of Kano State with 386 kilograms of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis. In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, another suspect, Isah Wako, 42, was apprehended in the Gwagwalada area with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance.
In Edo State, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Aduan village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, 33, was arrested. Officers destroyed 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk on two farms and recovered an additional 16.5 kilograms of the substance.
Meanwhile, a joint inspection by NDLEA officers, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Apapa Port led to the interception of 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers that had earlier been placed under watch following intelligence reports.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign with sensitisation lectures delivered to students and staff of schools across several states including Nasarawa, Oyo, Delta, Cross River and Edo.
While commending officers and men of the agency across its commands in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the FCT for the arrests and seizures recorded during the week, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised their dedication and urged them to sustain the balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts in the ongoing fight against illicit drugs in the country.
