Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to travel to New Delhi, India, with 1.550kg of cocaine concealed in his luggage.
The suspect, who reportedly deals in marble in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to India.
According to the NDLEA, a search of his checked-in luggage revealed 1.550kg of cocaine concealed within the walls and railings of the bag.
The agency said the suspect confessed to selling his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million to purchase the consignment, with the expectation of selling it for up to N100 million in India.
The NDLEA said, “Nwankwo, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
“A search of his check-in bag uncovered 1.550 kilograms of cocaine factory-fitted in the walls and railings of his bag.
“In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as N100 million.
“With his assets gone, and Nwankwo’s dream of transiting from a marble trader to a drug kingpin effectively shattered following his arrest, the suspect remains in custody awaiting prosecution and likely time in jail.”
NDLEA seizes N2.6bn codeine consignment in Lagos
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse inside a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos.
The operation led to the seizure of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, with an estimated value of more than N2.6 billion.
The seizure was made between Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, 2026.
The agency also reported the arrest of a 55-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, following a raid on his residence at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja, Lagos.
During the operation on August 14, NDLEA operatives recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million. A Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla were also seized.
Other arrests and seizures
In Kwara State, two suspects, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were arrested at Kam Wire area of Ilorin on August 13. They were allegedly found with 55.96kg of skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi. A Toyota Sienna marked FFA-115KA was recovered from them, containing 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Also on the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, NDLEA operatives arrested Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18. The agency said it recovered 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million in cash.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect identified as Kasum Sherif was arrested.
Kano operations
Six suspects were arrested on August 10 during a patrol along the Zaria-Kano Road. They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
The NDLEA said large quantities of opioids were recovered from the suspects, including 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other substances, alongside 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
In another operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on August 14. The operation resulted in the recovery of 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and the arrest of Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24.
Cannabis farms destroyed in Edo
In Edo State, the agency said 4,628.9775kg of skunk was destroyed on two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested during the operation.
Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City. NDLEA said 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine were recovered.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities across the country, including lectures for students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended personnel in the affected commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa also praised NDLEA commands nationwide for maintaining what he described as a balance between efforts aimed at reducing drug supply and those focused on reducing demand.