Brazil-Based Businessman’s Homecoming Ends in NDLEA Net Over Cocaine-Soaked Clothes

What was meant to be a routine trip home to reunite with family ended in arrest for a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly uncovered 6.10 kilograms of cocaine concealed in shirts and towels packed in his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The suspect, 41-year-old Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, was arrested upon arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

NDLEA said a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage led to the recovery of 14 shirts and towels impregnated with liquid cocaine, which had been dried and carefully ironed in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

“The search led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, all soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well ironed,” the agency stated.

According to the statement, the suspect told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years where he operates an African restaurant and had travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.

Beyond the dramatic airport arrest, the agency recorded a series of major breakthroughs across the country, highlighting the scale and persistence of illicit drug trafficking networks.

In Abia State, a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, was arrested after being found with 1.8 kilograms of skunk by members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area, before being handed over to NDLEA operatives.

Similarly, a 28-year-old man living with disability, Abubakar Usman, was arrested in Rivers State with assorted illicit substances, including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol and diazepam.

The arrests, according to observers, reflect the growing reach of the illicit drug trade across different age groups and social backgrounds.

Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives uncovered increasingly sophisticated concealment methods and large drug consignments during raids and patrol operations.

In Delta State, officers arrested a suspect, Onya Jude, after discovering 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside five gas cylinders at Ogwashi-Uku.

In Gombe State, two suspected drug dealers identified as Jamilu Idris, also known as Jama, and Aminu Abdullahi, alias Momo, were arrested with 2.738 kilograms of skunk.

Along the Zaria-Kano Road, operatives intercepted a suspect, Ngozi Gaius, who was allegedly transporting 6,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg.

In Kwara State, officers on patrol along the Bode Saadu Road intercepted a black Toyota jeep and arrested two suspects, Nasiru Hamza and Muhammad Sani, after discovering 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304 kilograms concealed in the vehicle.

Perhaps the most significant seizures of the week, however, were recorded in Taraba, Abuja and Lagos.

Acting on intelligence, NDLEA operatives raided the warehouse of a suspected drug dealer, Ali Adamu, at Maihula Village in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, where they recovered 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5 kilograms.

In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives on patrol along the Gwagwalada Expressway arrested Emmanuel Nnadi and recovered 30,400 pills of tramadol, 750 capsules of pregabalin, 200 pills of molly and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

In another major operation, officers recovered a consignment of Ghana Loud weighing 1,102 kilograms around the Alaba International Market area of Ojo, Lagos.

Even as enforcement operations intensified, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools, communities, workplaces and traditional institutions nationwide.

According to the statement, awareness programmes were conducted in schools and communities across Nasarawa, Enugu, Lagos, Kano and Anambra states, while the Rivers State Command paid an advocacy visit to traditional authorities as part of efforts to curb substance abuse.

Commending officers and personnel involved in the various operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their commitment to balancing drug supply reduction with public enlightenment efforts.

Marwa urged officers across the country to remain vigilant and continue surpassing previous operational records in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.