Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside food items while travelling to the United Kingdom.
The suspect, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was apprehended at the airport’s departure hall on Saturday, March 14, while preparing to board British Airways flight BA082 bound for Heathrow Airport, London.
According to a statement issued Sunday by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, officers discovered the illicit drugs during a routine search of the suspect’s luggage.
The agency said blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons had been cleverly concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, in an attempt to evade detection.
“The septuagenarian, who claimed he was travelling to London for vacation, was arrested at the departure hall while attempting to board the flight,” Babafemi said.
The arrest in Abuja was part of a broader series of anti-narcotics operations conducted nationwide by the NDLEA over the past week.
In Lagos, operatives arrested Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island while she was allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis.
Investigators said she was accompanied by her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She reportedly told officers that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day.
Authorities said Olatunji admitted ownership of the drugs and further investigation revealed he had previously been convicted and served a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in 2015 for a similar offence.
NDLEA operatives also intercepted large quantities of controlled substances in other parts of the country.
In a separate Lagos Island operation, officers arrested Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim after recovering 68,000 tramadol pills loaded in a truck reportedly destined for Benin Republic. A follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the shipment.
Another raid in the same market resulted in the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin, with officers recovering 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
In Kano State, Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, was arrested with 386 kilograms of skunk, while Isah Wako was caught with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, arresting Chinedo Odalonu, 33.
During the operation, officers destroyed 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two farms and recovered an additional 16.5 kilograms of the substance.
Meanwhile, at Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers working with the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup hidden in two containers that had been placed under surveillance following intelligence reports.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Buba Marwa, commended officers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Edo states for the arrests and seizures.
He urged personnel across the country to sustain their efforts in tackling both the supply and demand of illicit drugs as part of the agency’s ongoing campaign to curb drug trafficking and abuse nationwide.
