NDLEA arrests businessman with N1.55bn cocaine consignment at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.550kg of cocaine to New Delhi, India.

Onyebuchi, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi.

According to a statement by the NDLEA, the cocaine was concealed inside the side walls and railings of his check-in luggage.

A search of the bag led to the discovery of the 1.550kg consignment, which had been factory-fitted into the luggage.

The agency said the arrest was made as part of its intensified operations against illicit drug trafficking.

During interrogation, Onyebuchi reportedly disclosed that he sold his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million, which he allegedly paid for the cocaine consignment.

He reportedly planned to sell the drugs in India for as much as ₦100 million.

His plan was, however, cut short by his arrest, and he remains in NDLEA custody pending prosecution.

In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives seized 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a warehouse at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota.

The operation, conducted between Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, followed credible intelligence on the storage of the controlled substance.

The seized codeine-based syrup was valued at over ₦2.6 billion.

In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja.

The raid, conducted on Wednesday, August 14, resulted in the recovery of 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of ₦972 million.

Two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla, were also recovered from the suspect.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire area of Ilorin on Thursday, August 13.

The suspects were allegedly found with 55.96kg of skunk concealed in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.

Similarly, two suspects, 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State.

A search of their Toyota Sienna vehicle led to the recovery of 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.

In another operation along the Onitsha/Asaba Expressway, NDLEA operatives arrested Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18.

The suspects were allegedly found with 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Another suspect, 50-year-old Emeka Tony, was arrested along the Kwale/Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and ₦8 million in cash.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom/Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect identified as Kasum Sherif was arrested.

Meanwhile, six suspects were arrested during an NDLEA patrol along the Zaria-Kano Road in Kano State.

The suspects were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.

The agency said officers recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids from them, alongside 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

In another operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on Friday, August 14.

The operation led to the recovery of 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg.

Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775kg of skunk discovered on two cannabis farms measuring 1.851591 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested during the raid.

Also in Edo, 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City.

The operation led to the recovery of 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa also praised NDLEA personnel across the country for maintaining what he described as a balance between efforts to reduce the supply of illicit drugs and measures aimed at reducing drug demand.