By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Another major drug trafficking attempt involving clothing items soaked in liquid cocaine has been uncovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with 41-year-old Brazil-based businessman arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos in connection with the shipment.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, disclosed details of the operation in an email sent to Persecondnews on Sunday.
The suspect, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, was intercepted on arrival from Sao Paulo, Brazil, through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Thursday, June 11.
A clean sweep of his luggage led to the discovery of 14 shirts and towels allegedly soaked with liquid cocaine, dried and neatly ironed with the total weight of the recovered substance put at 6.10 kg.
During interrogations, Abugu reportedly said he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he runs an African restaurant.
He added that he came into Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.
In a separate development, NDLEA also arrested two persons living with disabilities in Abia and Rivers States over alleged involvement in illicit drug activities.
On Wednesday, June 10, a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, was apprehended with 1.8 kilograms of skunk by members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, before being handed over to NDLEA operatives.
Similarly, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, NDLEA operatives arrested 28-year-old Abubakar Usman in a raid at Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Items recovered from him included 400 grams of skunk, five grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, five grams of swinol and 18 grams of diazepam.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, operatives on Monday, June 8, arrested 36-year-old Onya Jude in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, with five gas cylinders allegedly used to conceal 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives also arrested two suspected drug dealers on the same day.
The suspects, 40-year-old Jamilu Idris (a.k.a. Jama) and 33-year-old Aminu Abdullahi (a.k.a. Momo), were picked up at Kasuwan Katako with three large blocks of skunk weighing 2.738 kilograms.
In Kano State, a 39-year-old suspect, Ngozi Gaius, was arrested along the Zaria–Kano Road on Friday, June 12, 2026, while conveying 6,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
Also on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State intercepted two suspects, 47-year-old Nasiru Hamza and 38-year-old Muhammad Sani, transporting 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304 kilograms in a black Toyota Jeep with registration number P JHR 783.
In Taraba State, intelligence-led operations on Saturday, June 13, 2026, led to the raid of a warehouse belonging to a suspected trafficker, Ali Adamu, 45, in Maihula village, Bali Local Government Area. A total of 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5 kilograms were recovered.
On the same day in the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Gwagwalada Expressway arrested Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, and recovered 30,400 tablets of tramadol (225mg and 100mg), 750 capsules of pregabalin 300mg, 200 pills of molly and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Lagos State, a large consignment of Ghana Loud cannabis, weighing 1,102 kilograms, was recovered around the Alaba International Market area of Ojo on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The Rivers State Command also paid an advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, Eze Onyekachi Amaonwu, Paramount Ruler of Eberi Omuma Kingdom, as part of efforts to strengthen community participation in the anti-drug campaign.
Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended officers of the MMIA, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures.
He noted that ongoing drug supply reduction efforts were being matched with sustained WADA sensitisation campaigns, urging officers to maintain and surpass current operational achievements.
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