The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine while attempting to travel from Nigeria to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
Cyril was arrested at the departure hall of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Sunday, August 2, during the screening of passengers scheduled to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Europe.
According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was placed under observation after his arrest and subsequently expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg.
“The suspect who was nabbed at the departure hall of the airport on Sunday, 2nd August 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, was subsequently placed on excretion observation during which he excreted 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms,” Babafemi said.
Investigations, he said, showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the drugs at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to catch his flight.
“Investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived Nigeria from Italy on 13th July 2026 and ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State before proceeding to Enugu to board his flight to Europe on Sunday 2nd August,” he said.
Babafemi added that the suspect admitted agreeing to transport the cocaine in exchange for payment.
“In his statement, he claimed he has been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug consignment for a fee of 3,500 Euros in order to raise money to relocate to Germany where his family is based,” he stated.
In Lagos, the agency said its operatives stopped an attempt to smuggle 1.2kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia after the substance was discovered concealed inside 25 phone chargers at a courier company.
“Attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers going to Saudi Arabia were thwarted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos,” Babafemi said.
Another attempt to send 500g of cocaine to Italy was also intercepted after the drug was allegedly hidden inside the false bottom of a backpack at another logistics company.
“A similar bid to send 500 grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was equally aborted in another logistics company by NDLEA officers on Monday 3rd August,” he added.
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The agency also intercepted a 2.3kg consignment of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, shipped from the United States.
“A consignment of 2.3kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States was intercepted in another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday 4th August,” Babafemi said.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers conducting patrols along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck heading north with 1,633kg of skunk concealed inside bags of rice chaff.
“NDLEA officers on patrol along Akure-Ilesha expressway on Tuesday 4th August intercepted a truck heading to the North with 1,633 kilograms of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts,” he stated.
Two men, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
The agency separately recovered 147kg of skunk during a raid on the Ita Ogbolu forest on Monday, August 3.
In Oyo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a suspected drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, where 731.03kg of cannabis was recovered.
The operation also led to the arrest of 57-year-old Felicia Thompson, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
“In Oyo state, operatives acting on credible intelligence on Monday 3rd August raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire LGA, where they recovered 731.03 kilograms and arrested a suspect, Felicia Thompson, 57, while her partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka is at large,” Babafemi said.
In Edo State, operatives backed by soldiers recovered 604.5kg of skunk during a raid at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area.
“In a similar operation in Edo state on Wednesday 5th August, operatives supported by soldiers recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West LGA,” he stated.
In Abia State, the agency arrested 31-year-old Chibuike Charles, whom it described as a suspected drug joint operator, during a raid at Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area. Officers recovered 7kg of skunk from the location.
“While a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by powerline base in Osisioma LGA, Abia state where 7kg of skunk was seized on Thursday 6th August,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA said a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested in Badagry, Lagos, following a three-month manhunt.
“A notorious wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru was on Saturday 8th August nabbed at the fibre market drug jungle, Badagry, Lagos, after a three-month manhunt for him,” the statement said.
According to the agency, 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him at the time of his arrest.
At the Tincan Island Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA officers working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies discovered cannabis-infused confectioneries during a joint examination of a 40-foot container.
“A total of 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cookies and gummies infused with cannabis weighing 309.4kg were discovered during a joint examination of a 40ft container by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies on Tuesday 4th August at the Tincan port complex Lagos,” Babafemi said.
He added that a suspect identified as Larry Nnaji had been arrested in connection with the seizure.