NDLEA Arrests 74-Year-Old Man with 11kg Cocaine Hidden in Ground Pepper at Abuja Airport

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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 for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside food items while travelling to the United Kingdom.

The agency said the suspect was apprehended at the airport’s departure hall on Saturday, March 14, 2026, as he tried to board a British Airways flight BA082 bound for Heathrow Airport.

According to NDLEA, a search of his luggage uncovered blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons, hidden inside food items including ground dry pepper.

In a related development in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman identified as Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Monday, March 9. She was allegedly caught attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis.

Officials said the suspect was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. During interrogation, she reportedly told investigators that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was subsequently arrested later the same day.

Further investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a similar drug-related offence in 2015.

NDLEA also disclosed that its operatives intercepted a large consignment of opioids during separate operations on Lagos Island. Two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, were arrested at Ebute Ero after 68,000 pills of tramadol (250mg and 225mg) were discovered in a truck they were preparing to transport to Benin.

A follow-up operation at Idumota Market led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the shipment, Nnamdi Cyprian. A search of his shop reportedly uncovered a parcel containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol already packaged for delivery.

In another raid within the same market, NDLEA operatives arrested Nwanosike Kelvin and recovered 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from his shop.

The agency also recorded additional seizures across the country. In Kano State, a 42-year-old suspect, Magaji Dan Azumi, was arrested in the Bebeji area with 386 kilograms of skunk on March 10.

Similarly, NDLEA officers in the Federal Capital Territory recovered 282.2 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Isah Wako, in the Gwagwalada area on March 13.

In Edo State, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Aduan village where a 33-year-old suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, was arrested. During the operation, 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two farms were destroyed, while 16.5 kilograms were recovered.

Meanwhile, NDLEA said no fewer than 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in two containers at the Apapa Port during a joint examination conducted by NDLEA officers, personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on March 14.

The agency explained that the containers had been placed under surveillance following intelligence reports about concealed opioids in the shipment.

NDLEA also noted that its War Against Drug Abuse awareness campaign continued nationwide during the week, with sensitisation lectures held in schools across Nasarawa, Oyo, Delta and Cross River states.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the Federal Capital Territory for the arrests and seizures, praising operatives across the country for sustaining efforts to reduce both drug supply and demand.