Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after discovering 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items inside his luggage.
The arrest, which took place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, occurred while the suspect was attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 to London.
According to the NDLEA, the septuagenarian claimed he was travelling to the UK for vacation. However, a search of his luggage by officers at the departure hall uncovered blocks of cocaine hidden in ground dry pepper and carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons, weighing a total of 11kg.
Lagos drug arrests
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence arrested Maryam Olalowo in the early hours of Monday, March 9 at Ikad Hotel and Suites.
She was allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis. NDLEA officers said she was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest.
During interrogation, she claimed the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day while she was released.
Investigators said Ibrahim admitted ownership of the drugs and further checks revealed he had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment in 2015 for a similar offence.
Major tramadol seizures
In another operation at Epetedo/Ebetu Ero area, NDLEA operatives arrested Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim after intercepting a truck loaded with 68,000 pills of tramadol (250mg and 225mg).
The suspects were allegedly preparing to transport the drugs to the Benin Republic on March 9.
A follow-up raid on March 11 at Idumota Market led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian. A search of his shop uncovered a parcel prepared for waybill delivery containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg.
Another raid at the market on March 13 resulted in the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin, with 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection recovered from his shop.
Cannabis seizures in Kano, Abuja, Edo
In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, at Bebeji area with 386 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, on March 10.
Similarly, in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, officers recovered 282.2 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Isah Wako, also 42, on March 13.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve where Chinedo Odalonu, 33, was arrested.
The operation led to the destruction of 4,218.96kg of skunk on two farms, with 16.5kg recovered as exhibits.
Codeine haul at Apapa Port
Meanwhile, a joint operation involving NDLEA officers, men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers at the Apapa Seaport on Saturday, March 14.
The agency said the containers had been placed on a watchlist following intelligence reports about concealed opioid shipments.
Anti-drug awareness campaign
The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign across the country, delivering sensitisation lectures in schools including ERCC Secondary School Duguru in Nasarawa State, Awoyemi Commercial High School Okeho in Oyo State, Ogunu Primary School in Delta State, Seven Angels University Secondary School in Calabar, and Edo National College Iguobazuwa in Edo State.
The agency’s Zone 11 Command also paid an advocacy visit to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
Reacting to the week’s operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers in the Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa also praised personnel across the country for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts in the fight against illicit drugs.
The statement was issued on Sunday, March 15, 2026, by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.
