Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man suspected of attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The suspect, identified as Emeka, was apprehended at the airport’s departure hall while attempting to board a British Airways flight bound for Heathrow Airport in London.
The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who said the suspect claimed he was travelling to the United Kingdom for a vacation.
According to the agency, a thorough search of the man’s luggage uncovered blocks of cocaine carefully concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper.
The illicit substances were reportedly wrapped in foil papers and balloons in an attempt to evade detection.
Babafemi said the drugs, weighing about 11 kilograms, were discovered during routine security checks at the departure hall before the suspect could board the international flight.
The NDLEA spokesman noted that the arrest was part of ongoing efforts by the anti-narcotics agency to curb drug trafficking and dismantle networks involved in the illicit trade.
In addition to the airport arrest, the agency reported a series of other operations that led to the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of different illicit drugs in various parts of the country.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence arrested Maryam Olalowo in the early hours of March 9 at Ikad Hotel and Suites.
She was allegedly caught attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of a cannabis strain known as Canadian Loud.
According to the agency, the woman was with her three children, including an infant, at the time of her arrest.
Babafemi said the suspect later claimed the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was subsequently arrested the same day.
Investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested and convicted for a similar offence in 2015, for which he served a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
In another operation on Lagos Island, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, after intercepting a truck carrying 68,000 tramadol pills allegedly meant for transportation to Benin.
A follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the drug consignment. Officers also recovered a parcel containing 1,000 tramadol tablets prepared for delivery from his shop.
During another raid at the same market, operatives arrested Nwanosike Kelvin and recovered 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
In separate operations, NDLEA officers arrested Magaji Dan Azumi in Bebeji with 386 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
Another suspect, Isah Wako, was apprehended in Gwagwalada with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance.
In Orhionmwon Local Government Area, NDLEA operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve where they arrested Chinedo Odalonu.
During the operation, officers destroyed about 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk found on two farms and recovered an additional 16.5 kilograms of the illicit drug.
Meanwhile, at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers working in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup hidden inside two containers.
The containers had reportedly been placed on a watch list following intelligence reports suggesting they were being used to smuggle the prohibited substances into the country.
The NDLEA said the operations demonstrate its intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and distribution networks across Nigeria.
