NDLEA ARRESTS BUSINESSMAN OVER N23M COCAINE CONSIGNMENT AT LAGOS AIRPORT
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, after 1.55kg of cocaine was discovered concealed inside the walls and railings of his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Babafemi, Onyebuchi, a marble dealer based in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
A search of his checked-in luggage reportedly revealed 1.55kg of cocaine factory-fitted into the walls and railings of the bag.
The suspect allegedly told investigators that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23m to purchase the cocaine, which he hoped to sell in India for as much as N100m.
Babafemi said the suspect remained in NDLEA custody and would be prosecuted.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse inside a residential compound on Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at over N2.6bn.
The seizure was made between Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, 2026.
The agency also reported the arrest of a 55-year-old alleged drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, at his residence in Ipaja Estate, Lagos. Operatives recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972m, alongside a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla.
Across Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Plateau, Kano and Edo states, the agency reported additional arrests and seizures involving cannabis, tramadol, codeine syrup, cocaine, methamphetamine and other controlled substances.
In Kwara, two suspects were arrested with 55.96kg of skunk, while two others were apprehended along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State with 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives intercepted two suspects and recovered large quantities of tramadol, codeine syrup, rohypnol, diazepam and injectable controlled substances. Another suspect was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and N8m.
In Plateau State, operatives recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol, from a vehicle intercepted along the Riyom-Jos Road and arrested a suspect in connection with the seizure.
The agency also reported the arrest of six suspects along the Zaria-Kano Road, where officers recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud cannabis.
In another operation in Kano, 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg were recovered, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775kg of skunk from two cannabis farms covering 1.85 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area. One suspect was arrested during the operation.
Another suspect was arrested in Benin City with 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area.
The NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse advocacy activities also continued across the country, with sensitisation programmes held for students and staff of schools in Kano and Lagos.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel involved in the arrests and seizures, urging officers across the country to sustain efforts aimed at reducing both drug supply and demand.
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