Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after discovering 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage.
The suspect, who claimed he was travelling to London, United Kingdom for a vacation, was intercepted on Saturday, March 14, 2026, while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 bound for Heathrow Airport.
According to NDLEA officials, a search of his bags revealed blocks of cocaine hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper. The drugs were carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons to evade detection.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island while attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis. She was found with her three children, including an infant, during the arrest.
She later confessed that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was subsequently arrested the same day. Investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been convicted and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a similar drug offence in 2015.
Further operations by NDLEA led to the arrest of two suspects at Ebute Ero, Lagos Island, where 68,000 pills of tramadol were recovered as they prepared to transport the drugs to the Benin Republic.
A follow-up raid at Idumota Market resulted in the arrest of another suspect, Nnamdi Cyprian, while additional operations led to the seizure of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from a shop belonging to Nwanosike Kelvin.
In Kano, NDLEA officers arrested a 42-year-old suspect, Magaji Dan Azumi, with 386 kilograms of skunk, while another suspect, Isah Wako, was apprehended in Gwagwalada, Abuja with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, destroying over 4,200 kilograms of skunk on two farms and arresting a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu.
At the Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA officers, alongside customs and other security agencies, intercepted two containers carrying 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup that had been watch-listed following intelligence reports.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the Federal Capital Territory for their efforts in combating drug trafficking.
He also praised commands nationwide for balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction through advocacy campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse initiative.
