The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for attempting to smuggle 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine concealed in shirts and towels imported from Brazil.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement that the 41-year-old suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, upon his arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on June 11, 2026.
According to the agency, a thorough search of his luggage led to the discovery of 14 shirts and towels impregnated with liquid cocaine, which had been dried and neatly ironed to evade detection.
During interrogation, Abugu reportedly told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant. He said he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items for his business.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives arrested two persons living with disabilities in separate drug-related operations in Abia and Rivers states.
A 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, was apprehended with 1.8 kilograms of skunk by members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. She was subsequently handed over to NDLEA on June 10.
Similarly, a 28-year-old suspect, Abubakar Usman, was arrested during a raid at Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Recovered from him were 400 grams of skunk, five grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, five grams of swinol, and 18 grams of diazepam.
In Delta State, NDLEA officers arrested 36-year-old Onya Jude at Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, on June 8. He was found with five gas cylinders used to conceal 2.8 kilograms of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis.
In Gombe State, two suspected drug dealers identified as Jamilu Idris, alias Jama, and Aminu Abdullahi, alias Momo, were arrested at Kasuwan Katako area with three large blocks of skunk weighing 2.738 kilograms.
The anti-narcotics agency also recorded major seizures in Kano and Kwara states. In Kano, officers intercepted Ngozi Gaius, 39, along the Zaria-Kano road while transporting 6,000 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Meanwhile, two suspects, Nasiru Hamza, 47, and Muhammad Sani, 38, were arrested along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State while conveying 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304 kilograms in a Toyota Jeep bearing special registration number PJHR 783.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided the warehouse of a suspected drug dealer, Ali Adamu, 45, in Maihula village, Bali Local Government Area. The operation led to the recovery of 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5 kilograms.
In the Federal Capital Territory, officers on patrol along the Gwagwalada Expressway arrested Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, and recovered assorted illicit substances, including 30,400 pills of tramadol, 750 capsules of pregabalin, 200 pills of molly, and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
The agency also recovered a large consignment of “Ghana Loud,” a strain of cannabis weighing 1,102 kilograms, around Alaba International Market in Ojo, Lagos State.
Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA said its Commands and formations across the country continued implementing the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitization programmes in schools, communities, workplaces and traditional institutions.
Among the outreach activities conducted during the week were awareness lectures at Government Science School, Lafia, Nasarawa State; Community Secondary School, Imufu, Enugu State; Araromi Junior Secondary School, Ijora, Lagos State; and St. Charles College, Onitsha, Anambra State. The agency also engaged traditional rulers in Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano State, while the Rivers State Command paid an advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of Eberi Omuma Kingdom.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers of the MMIA, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures. He urged them to sustain the momentum in reducing drug supply while intensifying public sensitization efforts under the WADA initiative.
