NDLEA INTERCEPTS COCAINE-SOAKED CLOTHES, ARRESTS BRAZIL-BASED NIGERIAN

NDLEA INTERCEPTS COCAINE-SOAKED CLOTHES, ARRESTS BRAZIL-BASED NIGERIAN

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine into Nigeria concealed in shirts and towels.

According to a statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the 41-year-old suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, upon his arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Babafemi said a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage led to the discovery of 14 shirts and towels soaked in liquid cocaine, which had been dried and neatly ironed to evade detection.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant, adding that he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items for his business.

In a related development, the anti-narcotics agency arrested a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, and a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disabilities, over alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities in Abia and Rivers states.

The agency said Chidimma was apprehended with 1.8 kilograms of skunk in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, while Usman was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with assorted illicit substances, including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.

NDLEA also recorded major drug seizures across the country, including 304 kilograms of skunk in Kwara State, 1,121.5 kilograms of cannabis recovered from a warehouse in Taraba State, and 1,102 kilograms of Ghana Loud seized around Alaba International Market in Lagos.

Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised personnel across several state commands for their efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse.