Italy-Based Businessman Excretes 98 Wraps Of Cocaine At Enugu Airport

...As Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme, TinCan Record Major Drug Seizures, Arrests

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

A 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.

Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight, ET930, to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.

The NDLEA said the suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he excreted all the 98 wraps of cocaine.

According to a statement issued by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, August 9, investigations showed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and ingested the drug at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to catch his flight.

Babafemi said the suspect, in his statement, claimed he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for €3,500.

The suspect reportedly said he accepted the deal to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.

The Enugu arrest was one of several drug-related operations carried out by NDLEA commands across the country during the week, with cocaine, cannabis and cannabis-infused products recovered from different locations.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives thwarted an attempt to export 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers to Saudi Arabia through a courier company.

The agency also intercepted 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack and destined for Italy at another logistics company on Monday, August 3.

Similarly, 2.3 kilogrammes of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, allegedly coming from the United States, was intercepted at another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.

On the Akure-Ilesha Expressway, NDLEA officers on patrol on Tuesday, August 4, intercepted a truck heading north with 1,633 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.

Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the consignment.

Another 147 kilogrammes of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid on Monday, August 3.

In Oyo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on Monday, 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 in Owan West Local Government Area on Wednesday, August 5.

In Abia State, a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6, with seven kilogrammes of skunk recovered.

Also in Lagos, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry on Saturday, August 8, after a three-month manhunt.

NDLEA said 88.5 kilogrammes of skunk was recovered from him at the time of his arrest.

At the TinCan Port complex in Lagos, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4 kilogrammes during the joint examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4.

A suspect, Larry Nnaji, has been arrested in connection with the seizure.

Meanwhile, the agency said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

Among the activities were 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 the officers and men of the Drug and Forensic Investigation Directorate (DOGI), Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and TinCan Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), urged them to sustain the momentum.

Marwa also enjoined NDLEA personnel across the country to continue with the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with prevention, sensitisation and public awareness.