By Amofokhai Williams
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, after he ingested 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes while attempting to traffic the drug to Europe.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the suspect was arrested on August 2, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.
Babafemi said Cyril, who was heading to Italy through Addis Ababa and France, was arrested at the departure hall of the airport and subsequently placed under excretion observation.
According to him, the suspect eventually excreted 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.
He disclosed that investigation revealed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and ingested the drug at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.
Babafemi said the suspect told investigators that he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for €3,500.
According to him, Cyril claimed he accepted the deal to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that operatives in Lagos had thwarted attempts by drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers to Saudi Arabia.
He said a similar attempt to send 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was intercepted at another logistics company in Lagos on August 3.
Babafemi added that NDLEA officers also intercepted a consignment of 2.3 kilogrammes of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States at another shipping company in Lagos on August 4.
In Ondo State, he said NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck heading to the northern part of the country with 1,633 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.
He said two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, who were transporting the consignment, were arrested.
According to Babafemi, NDLEA operatives also recovered 147 kilogrammes of skunk from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid on August 3.
In Oyo State, he said operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on August 3.
He disclosed that 731.03 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were recovered during the operation, while a 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested.
Babafemi said Thompson’s partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, was still at large.
In Edo State, he said NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5 kilogrammes at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area on August 5.
He added that a 31-year-old drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State on August 6.
According to him, seven kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from the suspect.
Babafemi further disclosed that a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry, Lagos State, on August 8, following a three-month manhunt.
He said 88.5 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from Sikuru at the time of his arrest.
The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4 kilogrammes were discovered during a joint examination of a 40-foot container at the Tincan Port Complex, Lagos.
He said the discovery was made on August 4 by NDLEA officers working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
Babafemi said a suspect, Larry Nnaji, had been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Beyond the arrests and seizures, he said NDLEA commands and formations across the country sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
He disclosed that WADA enlightenment lectures were delivered to students and staff of Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.
According to Babafemi, the Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
He quoted the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), as commending the officers and men of DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan commands for their successful operations.
He said Marwa charged the officers and their colleagues across the country to sustain the ongoing drug control efforts of the Agency.
According to Babafemi, the NDLEA chairman urged personnel to maintain the Agency’s balanced approach to drug control by combining intensified interdiction operations with drug demand reduction initiatives and sustained WADA sensitisation campaigns.
Well done NDLEA