NDLEA Nabs, Italy-Based Businessman Excretes 98 Cocaine Wraps at Enugu Airport, Arrestes Drug Offenders
Oru Leonard
An Italy-based Nigerian businessman, 30-year-old Joseph Cyril, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, after he excreted 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.
Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the departure hall of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, en route to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
According to the NDLEA Spokesperaon, the suspect on his arrest was placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine.
NDLEA investigations revealed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.
In his statement, the suspect reportedly said he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to traffic the cocaine for €3,500, which he intended to use to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
The Enugu arrest was part of a series of major drug interceptions recorded by the NDLEA across the country during the past week.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives at a courier company thwarted an attempt by drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers to Saudi Arabia.
The agency also intercepted another 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack and destined for Italy at a different logistics company on Monday, August 3.
Similarly, 2.3 kilogrammes of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States, was intercepted at another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway on August 4 intercepted a truck heading north with 1,633 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.
Two suspects, 40-year-old Buba Jamilu and 30-year-old Sanusi Ibrahim, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
The agency also recovered 147 kilogrammes of skunk from Ita Ogbolu Forest during a raid on August 3.
In Oyo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village in Orire Local Government Area on August 3, recovering 731.03 kilogrammes of illicit drugs.
A 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is still at large.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5 kilogrammes at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area, on August 5.
In Abia State, a suspected drug joint operator, 31-year-old Chibuike Charles, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area on August 6. About seven kilogrammes of skunk were recovered.
Meanwhile, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested on Saturday, August 8, at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry, Lagos, following a three-month manhunt.
At the time of his arrest, 88.5 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from him.
At the TinCan Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, intercepted 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cookies and gummies infused with cannabis.
The illicit consignment, weighing 309.4 kilogrammes, was discovered during a joint examination of a 40-foot container on August 4. A suspect, Larry Nnaji, has been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Beyond interdiction operations, the NDLEA said its Commands and formations across the country continued with sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The activities included enlightenment lectures for students and staff of 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.
Commending officers and men of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and TinCan Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa stressed the need for continued vigilance and intensified efforts against drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria.
