Italy-Based Businessman Excretes 98 Wraps of Cocaine at Enugu Airport — NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, for ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes while attempting to travel to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.

The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, which detailed several drug seizures and arrests recorded by the agency across the country.

Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the departure hall of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.

Following his arrest, he was placed under excretion observation and subsequently expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg.

According to the NDLEA, investigations showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13, 2026, and ingested the drugs at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.

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In his statement, the suspect said he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for €3,500. He reportedly said he took the offer in order to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.

The agency also disclosed that its operatives in Lagos prevented attempts to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers destined for Saudi Arabia.

A separate attempt to send 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was also thwarted at another logistics company on Monday, August 3.

On Tuesday, August 4, NDLEA operatives intercepted 2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which was shipped from the United States through another logistics company in Lagos.

In Ondo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck conveying 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts on Tuesday, August 4.

Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the consignment.

The agency also recovered 147kg of skunk from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid conducted on Monday, August 3.

In Oyo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village in Orire Local Government Area on Monday, recovering 731.03kg of illicit drugs.

A 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area on Wednesday, August 5.

In Abia State, 31-year-old Chibuike Charles, described as a drug joint operator, was arrested during a raid at Samec by Powerline Base in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6. The operation led to the seizure of 7kg of skunk.

Also in Lagos, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry on Saturday, August 8, after a three-month manhunt. NDLEA operatives recovered 88.5kg of skunk from him.

At the Tincan Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA officers, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies during the examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4.

The products weighed 309.4kg, while a suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

The NDLEA also said its commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The activities included enlightenment lectures at Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.

The Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.

Commending the officers and men involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s drug control efforts.

Marwa specifically commended the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan Commands for the successful operations.

He urged them “to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.”