NDLEA Intercepts Businessman with 6.10kg Liquid Cocaine Concealed in Shirts and Towels from Brazil
…Arrests Persons with Disabilities in Multi-State Crackdown
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) has announced a series of nationwide operations leading to the interception of a 41-year-old Brazil-based businessman, arrests of suspects including persons living with disabilities, and the recovery of large quantities of illicit drugs across several states.
A 41-year-old Sao Paulo-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Murtala Muhammed International Airport), Ikeja, Lagos, after arriving from Brazil via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Thursday, 11 June 2026.
NDLEA operatives reportedly discovered 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine concealed in 14 shirts and towels found in his luggage. The items had been soaked in liquid cocaine, dried, and ironed in an attempt to evade detection.
In his statement, the suspect claimed he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he runs an African restaurant. He said he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.
In separate operations, the agency arrested a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, in Abia State and a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman, in Rivers State for alleged involvement in illicit drug activities.
Chidimma was apprehended in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, after being found with 1.8 kilograms of skunk. She was initially arrested by a local vigilante group before being handed over to the NDLEA on 10 June.
In Rivers State, Abubakar Usman was arrested at Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, during a raid on 9 June. NDLEA officers recovered multiple substances from him, including 400 grams of skunk, 5 grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, 5 grams of swinol, and 18 grams of diazepam.
Nationwide raids yield large seizures
In Delta State, operatives arrested Onya Jude, 36, on 8 June at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area.
He was found with five gas cylinders allegedly used to conceal 2.8 kilograms of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis.
In Gombe State, two suspected dealers, Jamilu Idris (a.k.a. Jama), 40, and Aminu Abdullahi (a.k.a. Momo), 33, were arrested at Kasuwan Katako with 2.738 kilograms of skunk.
In Kano State, Ngozi Gaius, 39, was arrested along the Zaria–Kano road on 12 June while conveying 6,000 pills of 225mg tramadol.
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted Nasiru Hamza, 47, and Muhammad Sani, 38, along the Bode Saadu axis on 9 June. They were allegedly transporting 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304 kilograms in a Toyota jeep with a special registration number.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse belonging to a suspected dealer, Ali Adamu, 45, at Maihula village in Bali Local Government Area on 13 June. The raid led to the recovery of 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5 kilograms.
On the same day in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, was arrested along the Gwagwalada expressway with a large consignment of drugs including 30,400 pills of tramadol (225mg and 100mg variants), 750 pills of pregabalin 300mg, 200 pills of molly, and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Lagos State, operatives recovered 1,102 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud cannabis around the Alaba International Market area in Ojo.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities.
Recent engagements included lectures at Government Science School, Lafia; Community Secondary School, Imufu in Enugu Ezike; Araromi Junior Secondary School in Lagos; consultations with traditional leaders in Minjibir, Kano State; and St. Charles College, Onitsha.
In Rivers State, the agency also paid an advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, Eze Onyekachi Amaonwu, Paramount Ruler of Eberi Omuma Kingdom.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across Lagos, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos, and the FCT for their sustained operational successes.
He praised their commitment to both drug supply reduction efforts and public sensitisation campaigns, urging them to maintain and surpass current performance levels in the ongoing national anti-drug campaign.
