June 14, (THEWILL) — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 41-year-old businessman arriving from Brazil after intercepting 6.10 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in shirts and towels at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, while also detaining two persons living with disabilities in separate drug trafficking operations in Abia and Rivers States as part of a nationwide crackdown on illicit drug networks.
The suspect, identified as Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, was apprehended by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport shortly after arriving in Nigeria from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Confirming the development in a statement signed on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, who is a Spokesperson for the anti-narcotics agency, a thorough search conducted on his luggage uncovered 14 shirts and towels that had been soaked in liquid cocaine, carefully dried and ironed in what investigators described as a sophisticated concealment strategy to evade airport security detection.
During interrogation, Abugu reportedly disclosed that he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant business. He told investigators he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for shipment back to Brazil.
In another major development, NDLEA officers arrested a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, and a 28-year-old suspect, Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disabilities, over separate alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking operations in Abia and Rivers States.
The agency disclosed that Chidimma was apprehended after members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, reportedly found her in possession of 1.8 kilograms of skunk. She was subsequently handed over to NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, June 10.
Similarly, in Rivers State, Abubakar Usman was arrested during a raid by NDLEA in the Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt. Recovered from him were 400 grams of skunk, five grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, five grams of swinol and 18 grams of diazepam.
The nationwide anti-drug offensive also extended to Delta State, where operatives arrested 36-year-old Onya Jude in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area. Authorities said the suspect was caught with five gas cylinders specially modified to conceal 2.8 kilograms of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspected drug dealers identified as Jamilu Idris, also known as Jama, aged 40, and Aminu Abdullahi, alias Momo, aged 33. The duo was apprehended at the Kasuwan Katako area with three large blocks of skunk weighing 2.738 kilograms.
In Kano State, another suspect, Ngozi Gaius, 39, was arrested along the Zaria-Kano highway on Friday, June 12, while transporting 6,000 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Operatives also intercepted two suspects, Nasiru Hamza, 47, and Muhammad Sani, 38, along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State, while they were transporting 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304 kilograms in a black Toyota jeep bearing registration number PJHR 783.
One of the largest seizures during the week occurred in Taraba State, where NDLEA officers acting on intelligence stormed the warehouse of a suspected notorious dealer, Ali Adamu, 45, in Maihula village, Bali Local Government Area. The raid led to the recovery of 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing a massive 1,121.5 kilograms.
On the same day, NDLEA officers on patrol along Gwagwalada Expressway in Abuja arrested Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, and seized a substantial cache of controlled substances, including 30,400 pills of tramadol in varying strengths, 750 pills of pregabalin 300mg, 200 pills of molly, and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Lagos, operatives intercepted another major consignment of “Ghana Loud”, a premium cannabis strain weighing 1,102 kilograms, around Alaba International Market in the Ojo area of the state.
Beyond enforcement actions, the agency said its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across schools, communities, traditional institutions and workplaces.
The sensitisation campaign included awareness programmes at schools in Nasarawa, Enugu, Lagos, Kano and Anambra States, while the Rivers State Command paid an advocacy visit to traditional authorities, including community leaders in Omuma Kingdom, as part of efforts to deepen grassroots anti-drug campaigns.
Commending officers involved in the successful operations, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised commands across Lagos, Rivers, Abia, Delta, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, Taraba and Abuja for sustaining aggressive drug supply reduction efforts while balancing enforcement with public sensitisation campaigns.
Marwa urged officers nationwide to intensify efforts and continue surpassing previous operational records as the agency ramps up its campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse across Nigeria.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
