The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a businessman, Ejiofor Godwin Emeka, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano for allegedly ingesting and concealing cocaine.
According to the agency, the 52-year-old, who operates boutiques in Lagos and Onitsha, was taken into custody on October 8 after arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, via an Ethiopian Airlines flight, based on 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.