NDLEA nabs 74-yr-old man with 11kg cocaine in ground pepper at Abuja airport

By Kingsley Omonobi, ABUJA

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items while travelling to the United Kingdom.

NDLEA said the suspect was apprehended at the departure hall of the Abuja airport on Saturday, March 14, 2026, while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow Airport, London.

According to the agency, a search of his luggage revealed blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons and hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper.

In a related development in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, on Monday, March 9, while allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.

The agency said the suspect was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She reportedly told investigators that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day.

Investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.

NDLEA also disclosed that its operatives intercepted a large consignment of opioids in separate operations on Lagos Island. Two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, were arrested at Ebute Ero after 68,000 pills of tramadol (250mg and 225mg) were discovered in a truck they were preparing to transport to the Benin.

A follow-up operation at Idumota Market led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian. A search of his shop reportedly uncovered a parcel containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol prepared for waybill delivery.

In another raid at the same market, NDLEA operatives arrested Nwanosike Kelvin and recovered 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from his shop.

The agency also recorded seizures in other parts of the country. In Kano State, a 42-year-old suspect, Magaji Dan Azumi, was arrested at Bebeji area with 386 kilograms of skunk on March 10.

Similarly, NDLEA officers in the Federal Capital Territory recovered 282.2 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Isah Wako, in the Gwagwalada area on March 13.

In Edo State, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Aduan village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, 33, was arrested. During the operation, 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two farms were destroyed, while 16.5 kilograms of the substance were recovered.

Meanwhile, NDLEA said no fewer than 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in two containers at the Apapa Port during a joint examination by NDLEA officers, personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on March 14.

The containers, according to the agency, had been placed under watch following credible intelligence about the concealment of opioids in the shipment.

The NDLEA also noted that its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities continued across the country during the week, including awareness lectures in schools in Nasarawa, Oyo, Delta and Cross River states, among others.

While commending officers of the agency’s commands in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the FCT for the arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Buba Marwa praised operatives nationwide for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

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