The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman who allegedly attempted to smuggle 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine concealed in shirts and towels into the country, while also recording a series of major drug seizures and arrests across several states.
According to an official signed statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the suspect, 41-year-old Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, was arrested by operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, after arriving from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on June 11, 2026.
The statement explained that a thorough search of his luggage led to the discovery of 14 shirts and towels that had been soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and carefully ironed to evade detection. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly claimed he had lived in Brazil for more than 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant, and had travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items for his business.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives arrested two persons living with disabilities for alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking. A 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, was apprehended with 1.8 kilograms of skunk in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, after being intercepted by the Umuosu Vigilante Group and handed over to NDLEA on June 10.
Similarly, a 28-year-old suspect, Abubakar Usman, was arrested in Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with 400 grams of skunk, five grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, five grams of swinol and 18 grams of diazepam during an operation conducted by NDLEA officers on June 9.
In Delta State, operatives arrested 36-year-old Onya Jude at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area after recovering five gas cylinders specially modified to conceal 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis.
The anti-narcotics agency also arrested two suspected drug dealers, Jamilu Idris, popularly known as Jama, and Aminu Abdullahi, also known as Momo, in the Kasuwan Katako area of Gombe State. The suspects were found in possession of three large blocks of skunk weighing 2.738 kilograms.
In Kano State, NDLEA operatives intercepted Ngozi Gaius, 39, along the Zaria-Kano Road while transporting 6,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg. In Kwara State, two suspects, Nasiru Hamza and Muhammad Sani, were arrested along Bode Saadu Road while conveying 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304 kilograms in a Toyota Jeep.
The agency also recorded a major breakthrough in Taraba State, where officers acting on intelligence raided the warehouse of a suspected drug dealer, Ali Adamu, at Maihula Village in Bali Local Government Area. The operation led to the recovery of 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5 kilograms.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuel Nnadi along the Gwagwalada Expressway and recovered 30,400 pills of Tramadol, 750 pills of Pregabalin, 200 pills of Molly and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
Another significant seizure occurred in Lagos State, where operatives recovered a consignment of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,102 kilograms around the Alaba International Market area of Ojo.
The agency noted that its commands nationwide continued implementing its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, communities, workplaces and traditional institutions. Awareness activities were conducted in Nasarawa, Enugu, Lagos, Kano, Anambra and Rivers states as part of ongoing efforts to discourage drug abuse and trafficking.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), commended officers and personnel of the MMIA, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures. He praised their commitment to balancing drug supply reduction operations with preventive advocacy initiatives and urged them to sustain and surpass their current achievements in the fight against illicit drugs.
