Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after uncovering 11 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in his luggage.
The suspect, identified as Ikwuakalom Emeka, was intercepted at the airport’s departure hall while attempting to board British Airways flight BA082 to London’s Heathrow Airport.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the drugs were hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper, and carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons in an attempt to evade security checks.
The suspect reportedly told investigators he was travelling to the United Kingdom for a vacation before the drugs were discovered during a thorough search of his luggage.
Babafemi said the arrest formed part of a series of coordinated anti-narcotics operations carried out by the agency across several states.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a hotel in Victoria Island, where they arrested Maryam Olalowo while she allegedly attempted to sell cocaine and a strain of cannabis known as Canadian Loud.
She was found with her three children, including an infant.
During interrogation, she reportedly claimed the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day.
Authorities said investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested, convicted and jailed for two and a half years in 2015 for a similar drug offence.
Further operations in Lagos Island led to the arrest of two suspects at Ebute Ero with 68,000 pills of tramadol of varying strengths loaded in a truck allegedly destined for the Benin Republic.
A follow-up raid at Idumota Market resulted in the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, the alleged owner of the consignment, after officers discovered 1,000 tramadol tablets prepared for dispatch through a waybill service.
Another raid at the market days later led to the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin, with 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection recovered from his shop.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect with 386 kilogrammes of skunk, while another suspect was apprehended in Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory with 282.2 kilogrammes of the same substance.
In Edo State, operatives raided cannabis farms inside the Egwa Forest Reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where a suspect was arrested and more than 4.2 tonnes of skunk destroyed across two plantations.
Meanwhile, authorities also intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos during a joint inspection involving NDLEA, customs officials and other security agencies.
The agency said the containers had been placed under surveillance following intelligence reports suggesting they were being used to smuggle opioids into the country.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers involved in the operations across Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the Federal Capital Territory.
He urged them to sustain the momentum in combating both the supply and demand sides of drug abuse.
Marwa also highlighted the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse campaign, which continues to reach schools and communities across the country through sensitisation programmes aimed at discouraging drug use among young people.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
