The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Nigerian businessman, Ezeokoli Sylva, upon his return from Brazil, for smuggling 700 grams of cocaine concealed in his stomach.
The arrest was made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. This was disclosed in a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday.
Babafemi stated that the 59-year-old suspect was apprehended on Friday, November 29, 2024, at the E-Arrival hall of the airport upon his arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
“When he was taken for a body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach. As a result, he was placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 700 grams.
“In his statement, the suspect claimed he operates an African store in Brazil where he sells provisions, shoes, and clothes. He added that he bought the illicit consignment in São Paulo to resell in Nigeria with a view to raising substantial capital to boost his business,” Babafemi explained.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Investigation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two consignments containing cocaine and pentazocine injections destined for the United Kingdom through a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
According to Babafemi, the cocaine, weighing 200 grams, was concealed in local fabrics, while 40 ampoules of pentazocine injections, weighing 110 grams, were hidden in cartons.
Additionally, NDLEA officers in Kano arrested three suspects—Jamilu Adamu, 38; Umar Musa, 32; and Bunu Ali, 27—on Thursday, November 28, 2024, for possession of 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine injections and 3,135,000 pills of Exol-5 at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria Road.
In Lagos, 2,120 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, was intercepted at Ilesan Beach on Thursday, November 28, 2024. A suspect, Onibogi Muftau, was arrested, and four vehicles meant for transporting the drugs from the waterfront were also seized.
Earlier, on Monday, November 25, 2024, NDLEA operatives in Ogun State intercepted 472 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance at Idi-Iroko in the Imeko area.
In Edo State, two suspects—Monday Onyenemue, 60, and Evans Omogiede, 42—were arrested during a raid in Benin City on Thursday, November 28, 2024. NDLEA officers seized 185.6 kilograms of cannabis and a Toyota Previa bus with registration number BEN 06XL.
Reacting to these operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kano, and Edo Commands for their efforts.
Marwa praised their balanced approach to reducing both drug supply and demand, emphasizing that their successes are well-appreciated.
