- Intercepts multiple drug shipments across Nigeria
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 59-year-old businessman, Ezeokoli Sylva, who returned to Nigeria after 35 years in Brazil with 700 grammes of cocaine concealed in his stomach.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Sylva was apprehended on Friday at the E-Arrival Hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, upon arrival from São Paulo via an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan revealed foreign objects in his stomach, leading to his placement under observation, during which he excreted 29 wraps of cocaine.
The suspect, who owns an African store in Brazil, admitted purchasing the cocaine in São Paulo to sell in Nigeria, hoping to raise capital to expand his business.
Additional Seizures Across Nigeria
In a related development, NDLEA operatives intercepted two drug consignments destined for the United Kingdom via a courier service in Lagos. The seizures included 200 grammes of cocaine concealed in local fabrics and 40 ampoules of pentazocine injections weighing 110 grammes hidden in cartons.
In Kano, three suspects—Jamilu Adamu, 38; Umar Musa, 32; and Bunu Ali, 27—were arrested with 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine and over 3.1 million tablets of Exol-5 along Zaria Road.
In Lagos, NDLEA agents intercepted 2,120 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at Ilesan Beach. One suspect, Onibogi Muftau, was apprehended, and four vehicles intended to transport the drugs were seized. Earlier in the week, another 472 kilogrammes of the same substance were confiscated in Ogun State.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, operatives arrested two suspects, Monday Onyenemue, 60, and Evans Omogiede, 42, recovering 185.6 kilogrammes of cannabis and a Toyota Previa used for transportation during a raid in Benin City.
Agency’s Commitment to Drug Control
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved in the operations across Lagos, Kano, Ogun, and Edo states. He highlighted their success in both drug supply reduction and public sensitization efforts under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, targeting schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.
“These operations underscore our balanced approach to combating drug trafficking while promoting drug demand reduction through awareness and community engagement,” Marwa said.
