Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a China-based Nigerian businessman and two Angolan nationals for allegedly ingesting and excreting a combined total of 236 cocaine pellets at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
According to anti-narcotics authorities, the suspects were apprehended during separate operations at the two international gateways following intelligence-led surveillance and routine passenger screening. The agency said the arrests highlight ongoing efforts to intercept drug couriers using internal concealment methods to traffic narcotics across borders.
The Nigerian suspect, described as a businessman based in China, was reportedly intercepted upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Preliminary scans and behavioral profiling allegedly raised suspicion, prompting further medical observation. Authorities stated that over a monitored period, he excreted multiple cocaine pellets, which were subsequently recovered and documented as evidence.
In a related operation at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, two Angolan nationals were detained under similar circumstances. According to officials, body scans indicated the presence of foreign objects consistent with ingested narcotics. Under observation, the suspects excreted additional cocaine pellets, bringing the cumulative total from both operations to 236.
The agency did not immediately disclose the exact weight of the seized cocaine but indicated that forensic analysis and weighing procedures were ongoing. Drug mules who ingest pellets typically swallow dozens of tightly wrapped narcotic packages designed to evade conventional baggage screening. The method carries significant health risks, including potential rupture of the pellets, which can result in fatal overdose.
Investigators are examining travel histories, financial records, and communication devices recovered from the suspects to determine possible links to transnational trafficking networks. Nigeria has in recent years been identified as both a transit and destination point in global narcotics routes, with international syndicates exploiting major airports for movement of cocaine and other controlled substances.
The NDLEA said the suspects are currently in custody and will face prosecution upon conclusion of investigations. Charges are expected to include unlawful importation and trafficking of cocaine under Nigeria’s drug control laws. Convictions for such offences carry substantial prison terms and asset forfeiture provisions.
Aviation security experts note that airports remain critical checkpoints in combating drug trafficking, particularly as traffickers adopt increasingly sophisticated concealment strategies. Beyond internal ingestion, methods have included false-bottom luggage, courier recruitment through deceptive job offers, and the use of transit passengers to obscure origin and destination trails.
The arrests in Abuja and Kano come amid intensified surveillance at Nigerian airports, where anti-narcotics units collaborate with immigration authorities and other security agencies. Officials say the combination of intelligence gathering, passenger risk assessment, and medical monitoring has enhanced detection capacity.
Public health advocates have also raised concern about the exploitation of individuals as drug couriers, often driven by financial desperation or coercion. However, law enforcement agencies maintain that deliberate participation in trafficking networks must attract full legal consequences to deter the trade.
Authorities emphasized that the successful interception of the suspects prevented a significant quantity of cocaine from entering circulation. They reiterated their commitment to dismantling supply chains and strengthening cooperation with international partners to curb cross-border drug crimes.
As investigations continue, attention will focus on identifying accomplices, financiers, and potential distribution channels linked to the seized narcotics. The NDLEA has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious travel patterns or recruitment attempts associated with illicit drug trafficking.
The case underscores persistent challenges in combating transnational narcotics networks while highlighting ongoing enforcement measures at Nigeria’s major airports aimed at disrupting illegal drug flows.
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