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 for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine to the United Kingdom.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the departure hall while trying to board a British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow Airport in London.
NDLEA said a search of his luggage revealed blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons, concealed inside food items including ground dry pepper.
In a related operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, on March 9 for allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.
The agency said she was arrested with her three children, including an infant. She reportedly told investigators that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day.
Investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment in 2015 for a similar offence.
In another operation on Lagos Island, NDLEA operatives intercepted a large consignment of opioids. Two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, were arrested at Ebute Ero after 68,000 pills of tramadol were found in a truck they were preparing to transport to Benin.
A follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian, after 1,000 tablets of tramadol prepared for waybill delivery were discovered in his shop.
In a separate raid at the same market, NDLEA operatives also arrested Nwanosike Kelvin and recovered 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from his shop.
