The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a businessman, Ejiofor Godwin Emeka, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano over alleged ingestion and concealment of cocaine.

According to the agency, Emeka, 52, who runs boutiques in Lagos and Onitsha, was apprehended on arrival from Bangkok, Thailand, on 8 October aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight following intelligence reports.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect was subjected to a body scan, which indicated the presence of illicit substances. “He later excreted 69 wraps of cocaine in seven excretion sessions after 58 wraps were earlier recovered from his underwear,” Babafemi said. The total quantity reportedly weighed 1.388 kilograms.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted three consignments of narcotics intended for export to the United Kingdom. The agency said methamphetamine weighing 1.74 kilograms was concealed inside blocks of glass ceramics, while other packages contained tramadol and pentazocine injections hidden in Vitamin C containers.

NDLEA officers also disrupted attempts to ship 2.6 kilograms of skunk and 422 grams of tapentadol tablets disguised as black soap to Turkey. Additional seizures included 169 grams of cocaine hidden in handbags bound for Australia and 568 grams of cannabis concealed in herbal containers destined for the United Arab Emirates.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, 27,510 rohypnol pills were found hidden in alcoholic sachets heading to South Africa. The agency said a follow-up operation led to the arrest of 46-year-old Samuel Omoruyi, who allegedly coordinated the shipment.

In a similar case, Italy-based businessman, Enehizena Augustine Uyimwen, was arrested for attempting to export 3,700 tramadol pills and 2,600 tapentadol tablets concealed in food items to Europe. According to the NDLEA, the suspect admitted he was paid €945 to deliver the consignment.

The agency added that further operations across Edo, Osun, Rivers, Katsina, Niger, Ondo and Kaduna States led to the recovery of large quantities of cannabis and other illicit substances.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their commitment to ongoing enforcement operations and encouraged continued efforts in public sensitisation under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.