The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.
The development was disclosed on Sunday, August 9, 2026, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Babafemi said Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, which was scheduled to take him to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
The suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg, according to the NDLEA spokesperson.
Babafemi said investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13, 2026, before allegedly ingesting the consignment at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, ahead of his planned return to Europe.
In his statement to investigators, Cyril reportedly said he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug for €3,500, which he intended to use to raise funds to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
The NDLEA spokesperson also announced a series of other drug interceptions and arrests recorded across the country.
In Lagos, operatives thwarted attempts by suspected drug traffickers to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers to Saudi Arabia through a courier company.
Babafemi said another 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack and destined for Italy was intercepted at a logistics company on Monday, August 3.
A separate shipment containing 2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States was also intercepted at another logistics company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.
On the Akure-Ilesha Expressway, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday intercepted a truck allegedly conveying 1,633kg of skunk to northern Nigeria.
Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the seizure, while 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu Forest during a raid on Monday, August 3.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives raided a suspected drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on Monday, recovering 731.03kg of drugs and arresting 57-year-old Felicia Thompson. Her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is currently at large, Babafemi said.
In Edo State, operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 604.5kg of skunk packed in 65 jumbo bags at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area, on Wednesday, August 5.
In Abia State, a 31-year-old suspected drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, was arrested during a raid at Samec by Powerline in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6, with about 7kg of skunk recovered.
The agency also announced the arrest of a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, at the Fibre Market drug area in Badagry, Lagos, on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt.
According to Babafemi, 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from Sikuru at the time of his arrest.
At the TinCan Island Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg during the examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4.
A suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure, the NDLEA said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities.
Babafemi said recent activities included enlightenment lectures at Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers and men of the various commands and formations involved in the operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement operations with prevention, sensitisation and public advocacy.
