NDLEA Arrests Businessman With 1.55kg Cocaine Hidden In Luggage At Lagos Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, after allegedly discovering 1.550kg of cocaine concealed inside the walls and railings of his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

Babafemi said Onyebuchi, a marble dealer based in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

He said the cocaine was discovered after NDLEA operatives searched the suspect’s check-in bag and found the substance factory-fitted into its walls and railings.

According to the agency, the suspect confessed to selling his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the cocaine, which he planned to sell in India for up to N100 million.

Babafemi said, “In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as N100 million.”

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The suspect remains in NDLEA custody and is expected to face prosecution.

In a separate operation in Lagos, the agency said its operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse located within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, where they uncovered a large consignment of codeine-based syrup.

The agency said 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance, valued at more than N2.6 billion, were seized between August 7 and 8, 2026.

NDLEA operatives also raided the residence of a 55-year-old alleged drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Lagos, on August 14.

Babafemi said the operation led to the recovery of 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million. A Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Corolla were also recovered from the suspect.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire area of Ilorin on August 13, recovering 55.96kg of skunk from a truck marked DKA 350 XL.

Two other suspects, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, 70, and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State on August 12.

The agency said 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered from their Toyota Sienna vehicle marked FFA-115KA.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives intercepted Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway on August 13.

According to the agency, the operation resulted in the seizure of 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway on August 12 with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla, registration number MKD 341 EA, along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a tramadol brand. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested.

Six suspects were also arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road in Kano State on August 10.

The suspects were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.

The agency said the suspects were found with 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

Also in Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on August 14 and recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg.

Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Edo State, the agency said 4,628.9775kg of skunk was destroyed after operatives raided two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares in Ugboku/Igbanke forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested at one of the farms during the August 12 operation.

Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in Oluku, Benin City, on August 14.

NDLEA said 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine were recovered from him.

The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse advocacy campaigns during the week, conducting sensitisation programmes for students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos State, among other locations.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel of the MMIA and the Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta commands for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa also praised officers across the agency for sustaining what he described as a balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.