NDLEA intercepts businessman with 6.10kg of liquid cocaine from Brazil
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Reports Multiple Arrests in Drug Trafficking Cases
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the arrest of a 41-year-old businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Ikechukwu, who resides in São Paulo, Brazil, is accused of attempting to import 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine hidden inside shirts and towels.
According to NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the arrest occurred on June 11, 2026, upon Ikechukwu’s arrival from Brazil via Ethiopia. A thorough search of his luggage revealed 14 towels and shirts that had been treated with liquid cocaine to evade detection.
Ikechukwu, who reportedly has lived in Brazil for over 14 years, stated he was in Nigeria to visit his wife and procure food items for his African restaurant.
In a related incident, the NDLEA apprehended two individuals with disabilities suspected of drug trafficking. Chidimma Sunday, 60, was detained by local vigilantes in Abia State, found in possession of 1.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, on June 10. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Abubakar Usman was arrested in Port Harcourt on June 9 during a raid, where NDLEA operatives seized 400 grams of skunk, along with several other controlled substances.
In Delta State, 36-year-old Onya Jude was arrested on June 8 with five gas cylinders concealing 2.8 kilograms of cannabis. Further arrests included Jamilu Idris and Aminu Abdullahi, who were caught with 2.738 kilograms of skunk in Gombe State.
Additionally, on June 12, Ngozi Gaius, 39, was detained while transporting 6,000 tramadol pills along the Zaria-Kano Road. Similarly, operatives intercepted Nasiru Hamza and Muhammad Sani in Kwara State on June 9, seizing 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing over 300 kilograms.
In Taraba State, NDLEA agents raided a warehouse belonging to 45-year-old Ali Adamu on June 13, recovering 63 bags of cannabis sativa totaling 1,121.5 kilograms. That same day, a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory led to the arrest of Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, and the seizure of over 30,000 pills of various drugs.
NDLEA operatives also recovered 1,102 kilograms of cannabis in Lagos around Alaba International Market on June 13.
As part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse, the NDLEA has intensified public sensitization campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, targeting schools, communities, and workplaces.
Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), chairman and CEO of NDLEA, praised the agency’s operatives for their efforts and urged continued vigilance in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria.
