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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.51kg at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
The suspect, identified as Joseph Cyril, was arrested on August 2 during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.
A statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said Cyril was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine.
“Investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived 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,” the statement reads.
“In his statement, he claimed he has been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug consignment for a fee of 3,500 Euros in order to raise money to relocate to Germany where his family is based.”
NDLEA said its operatives foiled attempts to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers to Saudi Arabia at a courier firm in Lagos.
The agency said another 500g consignment of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack and destined for Italy was intercepted at a logistics company on August 3.
“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 statement added.
According to the statement, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha expressway on August 4 intercepted a truck carrying 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.
Two suspects, Buba Jamilu and Sanusi Ibrahim, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
The agency also recovered 147kg of skunk from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid on August 3.
In Oyo, NDLEA operatives raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire LGA, on August 3, recovering 731.03kg of cannabis and arresting 57-year-old Felicia Thompson. Her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is still at large.
Babafemi said a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug area in Badagry, Lagos, on August 8 after a three-month manhunt. Officers recovered 88.5kg of skunk from him.
“A total of 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cookies and gummies infused with cannabis weighing 309.4kg were discovered during a joint examination of a 40ft container by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies on Tuesday 4th August at the Tincan port complex Lagos. A suspect, Larry Naji, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure,” the statement reads.
Babafemi said the agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.
He said Mohamed Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended officers of the agency’s DOGI, airport, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and TinCan commands for their operations.
Marwa urged officers to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.
