China-based businessman, 2 Angolans excrete 236 cocaine wraps at Nigerian airports
NDLEA Arrests Nigerian Businessman and Two Angolans for Drug Trafficking
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a Chinese-based Nigerian businessman, Ibeanu Vincent Chukwudulue, along with two citizens of Angola, Mbandu Martins Makiadi and Ngoma Wilson Fernando, for their involvement in drug trafficking.
According to a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, the arrests occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano. The suspects were found to have ingested a combined total of 236 wraps of cocaine.
Ibeanu, who was captured on Wednesday while aboard Qatar Airways flight 1432 en route to China via Abuja and Doha, was deboarded following credible intelligence and a body scan that revealed he had swallowed illicit drugs. He subsequently excreted 52 pellets of cocaine weighing 735.95 grams. In his statement, Ibeanu indicated he had been conducting business on Lagos Island before moving to Guangzhou, China, in 2024.
The two Angolan suspects, aged 50 and 52, were intercepted during passenger screening at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. They were preparing to board Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Istanbul, Turkey. Upon undergoing body scans, they tested positive for drug ingestion and were placed under observation. Mbandu excreted 76 wraps of cocaine weighing 920 grams, while Ngoma expelled 108 pellets, totaling 1.33 kilograms.
During questioning, both Makiadi and Fernando claimed they were recruited by a Luanda-based automobile spare parts dealer, who promised each $3,000 for successfully delivering the drugs to Turkey.
In another incident, NDLEA operatives thwarted an attempt by convicted drug kingpin Olashupo Michael Oladimeji to smuggle 1.10 kilograms of cocaine concealed in processed cassava granules, known locally as Garri, to London. Olashupo is currently serving a five-year sentence at Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos after a successful prosecution for a previous attempt to export cocaine.
NDLEA officers discovered the cocaine hidden in a shipment at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. A staff member of Olashupo’s logistics company was arrested, and investigations indicated that the scheme was orchestrated from within the prison.
Additionally, attempts to smuggle 1.70 kilograms of skunk in five jerry cans to the UK were also thwarted, with one arrest made in Lagos. In Abuja, a package containing a toy guitar was intercepted, revealing concealed cannabis.
In a raid in Lagos, NDLEA officers recovered 13.2 kilograms of synthetic cannabis and nitrous oxide during a search of a residential property. Multiple arrests were made in connection with these operations, which also included the confiscation of illegal substances from a known dealer in Ibadan.
NDLEA seized over 105,000 pills of tramadol in Kwara and arrested five suspects in Edo State for their involvement in the trafficking of skunk.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, commended the efforts of operatives from various state commands and urged continued diligence in both drug supply reduction and demand reduction initiatives.
