NDLEA intercepts Italy-bound businessman with cocaine consignments

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, with 4.80kg of cocaine concealed in the soles of shoes and railings of travelling bags at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The suspect was arrested on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, the operatives recovered 16 parcels of white powder concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes.

A further 195 wraps of the substance were found hidden in the railings of four travelling bags. The substances tested positive for cocaine and weighed a combined 4.80kg.

During interrogation, Tunde reportedly told investigators that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment hidden in the bags was intended for delivery to his partner in Italy.

He reportedly said he raised the money from compensation he received following an injury sustained while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives also intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne ports, with the seized substances having a combined street value of more than N5 billion.

At the Apapa port, operatives acting on intelligence subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination alongside Customs officials and other stakeholders.

A search of one of the containers on Saturday, September 3, led to the recovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 124kg and valued at N372 million. The drugs were concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.

At the Onne Port in Rivers State, two containers placed on the NDLEA watchlist were jointly examined with Customs and other security agencies.

Operatives recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg from a travelling bag and three of five vehicles — a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra — shipped in one of the containers.

The second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg. According to the NDLEA, the container originated from India and was routed through Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was allegedly deleted to avoid detection.

The agency said the Loud and codeine consignments recovered at the Onne Port had a combined street value of N833.2 million.

At the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, September 29, conducted a joint examination of a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada.

The operation led to the recovery of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg. The drugs were concealed in a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags in the container. The consignment was valued at more than N3.8 billion.

In Osun State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234kg of skunk from 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area, on Wednesday, September 30.

In Plateau State, a 41-year-old suspect, Agbo Dennis, was arrested on Tuesday, September 29, at the West of Mines area of Jos North following the seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.

In Lagos, operatives on Monday, September 28, raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, where they recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol.

A follow-up operation at Ladipo Spare Parts Market on Wednesday, September 30, also led to the arrest of 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo after the seizure of 61g of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24g of methamphetamine.

The drugs were concealed in a bottle of energy drink and sent as a waybill package from a commercial bus driver along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway the previous day.

In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Highway on Wednesday, September 30, intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commercial bus and recovered two sachets containing methamphetamine weighing 1kg.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, at Utako, Abuja.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi at Uyere community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, on Friday, October 2, recovering 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.

The same day, operatives arrested 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59g of Loud, 12g of Colorado, 19g of tramadol, 16g of methamphetamine, 4g of Swinol and 4g of Molly.

The agency also announced the arrest of 47-year-old Idris Mohammed Kurra, a fugitive who allegedly jumped bail six years ago.

Kurra was arrested on Tuesday, September 29. He was facing trial before the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, over alleged possession and dealing in 198kg of skunk.

The NDLEA said he had been on the run since December 2020 after allegedly jumping bail granted by the court.

The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across the country, with officials visiting schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The campaigns were held at institutions including St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oji, Enugu; Olu-Odo Primary School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos; Government Junior Secondary School, Tsamiya, Kano; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti; and Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the affected commands for what he described as intelligence-driven operations.

He urged them and other personnel across the country to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.