A 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA headquarters, Abuja.
Babafemi stated that Cyril was arrested on Sunday during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.
According to the statement, the suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg.
NDLEA said investigations showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13, 2026, and ingested the drug at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.
In his statement, Cyril said he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for €3,500 to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
The agency also reported the interception of several other drug consignments in different parts of the country.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives at a courier firm foiled an attempt to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers to Saudi Arabia.
A separate attempt to send 500g of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was also thwarted at another logistics company on Monday, August 3.
The agency said 2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States was equally intercepted at another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck conveying 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts and arrested two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30.
The agency also said 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid on Monday, August 3.
In Oyo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on Monday and recovered 731.03kg of cannabis. A 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area on Wednesday, August 5.
Similarly, a 31-year-old drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State on Thursday, August 6. About 7kg of skunk was recovered from the operation.
In Lagos, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt. NDLEA said 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.
At the Tincan Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg during the examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4.
A suspect, Larry Nnaji was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency said its activities during the week included enlightenment lectures at Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended officers and men of the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan Commands for the successful operations.
Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Italy based businessman excretes 98 wraps of cocaine – NDLEA