Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 30-year-old businessman based in Italy, Joseph Cyril, after he allegedly ingested 98 wraps of cocaine while attempting to travel to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said Cyril was arrested at the departure hall of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Sunday, August 2, during the outward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, ET930.
Babafemi said the suspect was placed under excretion observation after his arrest, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine with a combined weight of 1.510kg.
“The suspect who was nabbed at the departure hall of the airport on Sunday, 2nd August 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, was subsequently placed on excretion observation during which he excreted 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms.”
Providing further details, Babafemi said investigations showed that Cyril had travelled from Italy to Nigeria on July 13, 2026, before allegedly ingesting the drugs at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, ahead of his journey to Enugu to catch his flight to Europe.
“Investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived Nigeria from Italy on 13th July 2026 and ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State before proceeding to Enugu to board his flight to Europe on Sunday 2nd August.”
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Cyril admitted agreeing to transport the drugs in exchange for payment.
“In his statement, he claimed he has been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug consignment for a fee of 3,500 Euros in order to raise money to relocate to Germany where his family is based,” Babafemi said.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives also stopped attempts by suspected traffickers to send 1.2kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia after the drug was allegedly hidden inside 25 phone chargers.
“Attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers going to Saudi Arabia were thwarted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos.”
The agency also disclosed that another attempt to smuggle cocaine to Italy had been intercepted.
“A similar bid to send 500 grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was equally aborted in another logistics company by NDLEA officers on Monday 3rd August,” he stated.
The NDLEA further intercepted a consignment of cannabis allegedly shipped from the United States.
According to Babafemi, “a consignment of 2.3kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States was intercepted in another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday 4th August.”
Meanwhile, officers conducting patrols along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck travelling northward with 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice chaff.
“NDLEA officers on patrol along Akure-Ilesha expressway on Tuesday 4th August intercepted a truck heading to the North with 1,633 kilograms of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.”
Two men, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the seized consignment.
“Two suspects: Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, transporting the consignment were arrested,” he stated.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers recovered 147kg of skunk from the Ita Ogbolu forest.
“a total of 147kg skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid operation on Monday 3rd August.”
In Oyo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a suspected drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, where they recovered over 731kg of cannabis.
“In Oyo state, operatives acting on credible intelligence on Monday 3rd August raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire LGA, where they recovered 731.03 kilograms and arrested a suspect, Felicia Thompson, 57, while her partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka is at large.”
In Edo State, the agency said officers, working alongside soldiers, seized 604.5kg of skunk during a raid at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area.
“In a similar operation in Edo state on Wednesday 5th August, operatives supported by soldiers recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West LGA.”
In Abia State, operatives arrested a 31-year-old suspected operator of a drug joint, Chibuike Charles, during a raid at Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area.
“While a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by powerline base in Osisioma LGA, Abia state where 7kg of skunk was seized on Thursday 6th August.”
The agency also announced the arrest in Lagos of a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, following a three-month search for him.
“a notorious wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru was on Saturday 8th August nabbed at the fibre market drug jungle, Badagry, Lagos, after a three-month manhunt for him.”
The NDLEA said 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from Sikuru at the time of his arrest.
“As at the time of his arrest, 88.5kg of skunk was seized from him.”
At the Tincan Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA officers, working with Customs and other security agencies, intercepted a consignment containing confectioneries infused with cannabis.
“A total of 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cookies and gummies infused with cannabis weighing 309.4kg were discovered during a joint examination of a 40ft container by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies on Tuesday 4th August at the Tincan port complex Lagos.”
The agency said one suspect, Larry Nnaji, had been arrested in connection with the seizure.
“a suspect, Larry Nnaji, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.”