NDLEA Arrests Brazil-Based Businessman With 6.1kg Cocaine Hidden in Shirts, Towels

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for allegedly importing 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine concealed in shirts and towels from Brazil into Nigeria.

The 41-year-old suspect was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, upon his arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on June 11.

The agency disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the statement, a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage led to the discovery of 14 towels and shirts that had been soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and neatly ironed in an attempt to evade detection.

“A 41-year-old São Paulo, Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for importing shirts and towels impregnated with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria,” Babafemi stated.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for more than 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant. He claimed he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.

In separate operations, NDLEA officers also arrested a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, and a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disabilities, over alleged drug trafficking activities in Abia and Rivers states.

Chidimma was reportedly caught with 1.8 kilograms of skunk in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, while Usman was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with various illicit substances, including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol and diazepam.

The agency further announced significant drug seizures across the country, including 304 kilograms of skunk in Kwara State, 1,121.5 kilograms of cannabis recovered from a warehouse in Taraba State, and 1,102 kilograms of Ghana Loud intercepted around Alaba International Market in Lagos.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain the momentum in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse nationwide.