The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a businessman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after discovering 6.10 kilograms of cocaine concealed in clothing items imported from Brazil.
The arrest is part of a wider nationwide crackdown that also led to multiple seizures and arrests across several states in recent days.
Businessman Arrested At Lagos Airport
According to a statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect, 41-year-old Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, was arrested on Thursday, June 11, 2026, shortly after arriving from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Operatives reportedly discovered that the suspect had concealed liquid cocaine in shirts and towels, which were later dried, ironed, and packed as ordinary luggage.
A search of his bags led to the recovery of 14 clothing items, shirts and towels, all impregnated with cocaine.
Suspect Claims He Runs Restaurant In Brazil
In his statement to investigators, Ikechukwu claimed he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he operated an African restaurant.
He further stated that his trip to Nigeria was to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.
Nationwide Drug Crackdown Yields Multiple Arrests
In separate operations across the country, the NDLEA also arrested several suspects linked to drug trafficking and distribution.
In Abia State, a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, was arrested alongside a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman—both persons living with disabilities—after being caught with illicit substances. The arrests followed intelligence and community support operations.
In Rivers State, operatives intercepted another suspect in possession of multiple controlled drugs including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol, and diazepam during a raid in Port Harcourt.
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In Delta State, officers arrested a suspect found with gas cylinders used to conceal cannabis, while in Gombe, two alleged drug dealers were nabbed with blocks of skunk.
Large Seizures Across States
Further interceptions included:
- A suspect caught with thousands of tramadol tablets along the Kano-Zaria highway
- Two suspects arrested in Kwara State transporting 304kg of skunk in a vehicle
- A warehouse raid in Taraba State where over 1,100kg of cannabis was recovered
- A major seizure of assorted opioids in the Federal Capital Territory
- Recovery of over 1,100kg of Ghana Loud cannabis around Lagos’ Alaba International Market
NDLEA Intensifies War Against Drug Abuse
The agency also continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign, engaging schools, religious centres, traditional institutions, and communities across the country.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended operatives across various commands for the coordinated operations and urged them to sustain the momentum in both enforcement and public awareness efforts.