A Lagos-based businessman, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, 62, has been arrested at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while attempting to travel to China with 95 jumbo-sized wraps of cocaine weighing 1.589 kilograms concealed in his stomach.
In a statement on signed by Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Izueke was apprehended on Saturday 31st January 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to China via Addis Ababa.
When subjected to a body scan, he tested positive for ingesting illicit drugs and was placed under excretion observation. While under observation, he expelled a total of 95 pellets of the class A drug in seven excretions.
In his statement, Izueke said: “I decided to engage in illicit drug trafficking to raise enough money to complete the country home I’m building in my village, Iwollo, Enugu state.” He also claimed to be in the clothing and auto spare parts business in Lagos.
The NDLEA also intercepted several other major drug consignments across Nigeria in the past week. In Abuja, a methamphetamine smuggling attempt hidden in Mp3 speakers from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna was foiled on Friday 6th February, with follow-up arrests in Zuba and Kaduna leading to the detention of suspects Ebube Okeke, Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Eze Arinze, and Friday Michael.
In Taraba state, Yusuf Abubakar, 32, was intercepted transporting Hollandia Yogurt packs from Lagos to Mubi, Adamawa state, which concealed 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine. In Oyo state, multiple arrests included Shuaibu Abdulrahman, 29, with 149.6 kilograms of skunk hidden in rice shafts, and Adeniyi Adeola (a.k.a Prince), whose truck contained 10,820 ampoules of pentazocine and 117,820 tramadol capsules.
NDLEA operatives in Ibadan also arrested drug kingpin Jimoh Nurudeen, 40, along with his accomplice Ogundipe Yusuf, 27, seizing synthetic cannabis production chemicals, skunk, monetary exhibits of ₦7,408,400, and two vehicles. In Kwara state, 395,400 tramadol capsules were recovered from a fuel tanker en route from Lagos to Maiduguri, Borno state.
Other seizures include 203 kilograms of skunk in Imo state, 420 kilograms in Ondo state, 31 cocaine wraps from a passenger’s boat in Badagry, Lagos, and Canadian Loud and Colorado from Lagos Island. Enugu police recovered skunk, meth, cocaine, molly, and N457,700 from a dealer in Ezeagu.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers nationwide continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, workplaces, and communities. Activities included lectures at schools in Anambra, Oyo, and Lagos, and an advocacy visit to the Emir of Suleja, Niger state.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and urged continued professionalism and commitment in all drug supply and demand reduction activities.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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