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A 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after excreting 98 wraps of cocaine at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, 2026, while undergoing outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect was arrested at the airport’s departure hall during the clearance of passengers on flight ET930.
He was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms.
NDLEA Spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said investigations showed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the cocaine at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to catch his flight to Europe.
In his statement, the suspect said he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to traffic the consignment in exchange for 3,500 euros.
He reportedly told investigators that he accepted the deal to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
Other Cocaine Consignments Intercepted
The agency also reported intercepting several drug consignments in different parts of the country during operations conducted in the past week.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives foiled attempts to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed inside 25 phone chargers to Saudi Arabia through a courier company.
The agency said another attempt to ship 500 grams of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was also thwarted on Monday, August 3.
On Tuesday, August 4, NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment containing 2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States through another shipping company in Lagos.
At the Tincan Port complex in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working with Customs and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg.
A suspect, identified as Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Over 2,000kg Cannabis Seized
The agency also reported major cannabis seizures in several states.
NDLEA officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway on Tuesday intercepted a truck heading north with 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.
Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
The agency also said 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid on Monday, August 3.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, where they recovered 731.03kg of cannabis.
A 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remained at large, according to the agency.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5 kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area on Wednesday, August 5.
In Abia State, officers arrested a 31-year-old drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, during a raid at his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area.
The raid led to the seizure of 7kg of skunk, the agency said.
In Lagos, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt.
The NDLEA said 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him at the time of his arrest.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations across the country.
Marwa urged the agency’s personnel to sustain what he described as a balanced approach to drug control.
