The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that Ezeokoli Sylva, a Brazil-based businessman, was apprehended for smuggling 700 grams of cocaine concealed in his stomach.
According to an NDLEA statement released on Sunday, operatives arrested the 59-year-old at the E-Arrival Hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, November 29, 2024.
Ezeokoli had just returned from São Paulo, Brazil, via an Ethiopian Airlines flight through Addis Ababa, marking his first visit to Nigeria in 35 years.
“When he was taken for body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach. As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 700grams,” the statement said.
The NDLEA reported that the suspect claimed in his statement to operate an African store in Brazil, selling provisions, shoes, and clothing. He admitted purchasing the illegal substances in São Paulo, intending to resell them in Nigeria to raise substantial capital to expand his business.
Meanwhile, the agency revealed that on Tuesday, November 26, officers from the Directorate of Investigation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two parcels containing cocaine and pentazocine injections bound for the United Kingdom through a Lagos-based courier company.
The 200 grams of cocaine were hidden within local fabrics, while 40 ampoules of pentazocine injections, weighing 110 grams, were concealed in cartons.
Additionally, the NDLEA stated that on Thursday, November 28, operatives in Kano arrested three suspects—Jamilu Adamu (38), Umar Musa (32), and Bunu Ali (27)—at Gadar Tamburawa on Zaria Road.
They were found in possession of 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine injections and 3,135,000 Exol-5 pills.
“No fewer than 2, 120 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis produced in Ghana were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Ilesan beach, Lagos on Thursday 28th November. A suspect, Onibogi Muftau was arrested in connection with the seizure while four vehicles that were to convey the shipments from the waterfront were also recovered. This came on the heels of the seizure of 472kg of the same psychoactive substance at Idi-Iroko, Imeko area of Ogun state on Monday 25th November.
“In Edo state, two suspects: Monday Onyenemue, 60, and Evans Omogiede, 42, were on Thursday 28th November arrested and 185.6kg cannabis as well as a Toyota Previa bus marked BEN 06XL conveying the consignment recovered during an intelligence-led raid by NDLEA operatives at Ukuwague street, Benin city.
“With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week. These include WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Kofar Wambai, Kano; Government Day Secondary School, Njoboli- Fulani, Yola, Adamawa state; Girls High School, Mgbowo, Enugu state; God’s Time College, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti state while Cross River state Command delivered WADA sensitization lecture to traders at 8 Miles market, Calabar, among others.
“While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.”