“NDLEA Arrests Italy-Based Businessman With 98 Wraps Of Cocaine In Stomach” — Suspect Says He Took €3,500 Job To Relocate To Germany

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, after he was found to have ingested 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes while attempting to travel to Europe through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

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

A statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled the 98 wraps of cocaine.

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

“The investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on 13th July 2026 and ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before proceeding to Enugu to board his flight to Europe on Sunday, 2nd August.

“In his statement, he claimed he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug consignment for a fee of 3,500 Euros to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based,” the statement partly read.

The agency also intercepted cocaine concealed in phone chargers and a backpack in separate attempts to smuggle the illicit drug to Saudi Arabia and Europe.

The NDLEA operatives at a courier company in Lagos intercepted 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers and destined for Saudi Arabia.

The agency said officers also thwarted an attempt to export 500 grammes of cocaine to Italy after the drug was concealed in the false bottom of a backpack at another logistics company on Monday, August 3.

“Attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers going to Saudi Arabia were thwarted by the NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos.

“A similar bid to send 500 grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was equally aborted in another logistics company by NDLEA officers on Monday, 3rd August, while a consignment of 2.3kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States was intercepted in another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday, 4th August,” the agency said.

Another consignment containing 2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States, was intercepted at a shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck conveying 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.

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

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

In Oyo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village in Orire Local Government Area on August 3, recovering 731.03kg of cannabis and arresting a 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson. Her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is still at large.

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

In Abia State, a suspected drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at Samec by Powerline Base in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6. Seven kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from the suspect.

The agency said a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was also arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry, Lagos, on Saturday, August 8, after a three-month manhunt. A total of 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.

At the Tincan Port Complex, Lagos, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, intercepted 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg.

The consignment was discovered during the joint examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4, while a suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the agency’s Drug and Controlled Substances Unit, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan commands for the operations.

Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.

The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country during the week under review.