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NDLEADrugBust2026 as NDLEA arrests Brazil-based businessman Uche Franklin Onyekwere for concealing cocaine at Lagos airport and records multiple nationwide drug seizures totaling over 9,000kg.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja-Lagos, for concealing parcels of cocaine in his private part and soles of his footwear.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, the 47-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday during the inward clearance of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg, following processed intelligence.
A full body scan confirmed illicit drug concealment, leading to a strip search that uncovered a parcel of cocaine wrapped around his right thigh. Two additional wraps were found hidden in the soles of his shoes, bringing the total to 1.60 kilograms of cocaine.
Onyekwere, who resides in São Paulo, Brazil, claimed he has lived there since 2008 and operated a toy business for about nine years.
Major Drug Seizures Across Nigeria
In a related development, NDLEA operatives made several large-scale drug seizures across multiple states:
Lagos (Tincan Seaport)
A joint operation by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies uncovered 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 1,183 kilograms, hidden inside a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix imported from Montreal, Canada.
Niger State
Acting on intelligence, operatives intercepted a truck along the Dei-Dei–Abuja expressway, arresting Andy Chidogu (49), Kenneth Ogene (45), and Sadiq Olanrewaju (27) for transporting 176 bags of skunk (2,735kg) and 1kg of Colorado concealed in the vehicle.
Investigations revealed the truck driver had earlier delivered 800 bags of flour to Ekpoma, Edo State, before negotiating to transport the drugs for ₦1.7 million.
Edo State
NDLEA arrested Shaibu Yusuf along the Auchi–Abuja expressway with 66 bags of skunk (792kg) hidden in charcoal bags.
In another raid at Ebora Camp, Ilushi, Esan South East LGA, operatives supported by the Nigerian Army destroyed 4,063.675kg of cannabis on 1.6 hectares of farmland and recovered 328kg of processed cannabis.
Four suspects — Jeremiah Nwodeh (46), Chukwudi Pius (33), Pius Ogaba (46), and Onora Kwene (35) — were arrested.
Anambra State
A cement truck was intercepted at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, concealing 345.2kg of skunk under cement bags. The owner, Abum Okeke (42), was arrested with two others.
Ondo State
Two suspects, Tunde Ogundele (39) and Soji Elegbelye (46), were arrested at Eleyewo community, Akure North, with 473kg of skunk.
Kano State
Operatives arrested Abdullahi Usman (45) with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and Musa Shuaibu (42) with 4,390 pills of tramadol in Gaya area.
Lagos and Seme Border
At Okeyson Park, Alaba, Oragwan Ekene was caught with 15.5kg of skunk bound for Onitsha, while Omang Peter Edward was arrested at Seme Border with 3.5kg of skunk hidden in a sound system and cereal packets.
NDLEA Commends Operatives
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers of the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, and Kano Commands for their professionalism and vigilance.
He urged them to sustain the balanced approach of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to eradicating narcotics trafficking across Nigeria.