Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine into Nigeria. The suspect, who is based in São Paulo, Brazil, was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, upon his arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage led to the discovery of 14 towels and shirts impregnated with liquid cocaine, which had been dried and carefully ironed in an attempt to avoid detection.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he runs an African restaurant. He claimed he traveled to Nigeria to see his wife and to buy food items in bulk for his business. The NDLEA said its officers remain vigilant and that this arrest underscores their continued efforts to intercept illicit drug shipments at all points of entry.
In related developments, the agency announced the arrest of a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, and a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disabilities, over alleged drug trafficking in Abia and Rivers States. Chidimma was apprehended with 1.8kg of skunk by members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Isialangwa North LGA and handed over to NDLEA on June 10. Usman was arrested in the Rumuokoro area of Port Harcourt with assorted illicit drugs including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol, and diazepam. In Delta State, operatives arrested a 36-year-old suspect, Onya Jude, at Ogwashi-Uku after discovering 2.8kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside five gas cylinders. In Gombe State, the agency arrested two suspected drug dealers, Jamilu Idris and Aminu Abdullahi, also known as Jama and Momo, with 2.738kg of skunk. In Kano, a 39-year-old woman, Ngozi Gaius, was intercepted along the Zaria-Kano Road with 6,000 pills of tramadol 225mg.
On June 9, NDLEA operatives intercepted Nasiru Hamza, 47, and Muhammad Sani, 38, along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State. The suspects were allegedly conveying 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304 kilograms in a black Toyota jeep. In Taraba State, a raid on a drug dealer’s warehouse in Bali LGA led to the recovery of 1,121.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa.
Commending the officers involved in these operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised personnel of the MMIA, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos and FCT commands for their diligence. He noted that their successes in reducing drug supply were being matched with ongoing drug demand reduction and sensitisation activities, and urged them to surpass their previous achievements. The agency also reported the seizure of a large consignment of “Ghana Loud” around the Alaba International Market area of Lagos.
Above is the photograph of the seized items and the arrested suspect.
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