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 in Abuja after discovering 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage.

The suspect was apprehended at the departure hall while attempting to board a British Airways flight to London in the United Kingdom on March 14. NDLEA officers said the cocaine was hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper, and wrapped in foil papers and balloons.

In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at a hotel in Victoria Island while allegedly attempting to sell cocaine and a strain of cannabis known as Canadian Loud. Her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, was later arrested after she claimed the drugs belonged to him. Investigations revealed he had previously been convicted for a similar offence in 2015.

The agency also arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, on Lagos Island with 68,000 tablets of tramadol while preparing to transport the drugs to the Benin Republic. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the consignment, while another raid at Idumota Market resulted in the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin and the recovery of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

In Kano State, a suspect identified as Magaji Dan Azumi was arrested with 386 kilograms of skunk, while another suspect, Isah Wako, was apprehended in Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance.

NDLEA operatives also raided a forest reserve in Edo State, arresting Chinedo Odalonu and destroying over 4,200 kilograms of skunk discovered on two farms.

At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, officers intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers during a joint examination with other security agencies.

Chairman of the NDLEA,  Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) , commended officers across several state commands for the arrests and seizures, urging them to maintain efforts in both drug supply reduction and anti-drug abuse advocacy nationwide.