NDLEA conducts nationwide drug seizures, including Lagos airport arrest

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to board a flight to New Delhi, India, with 1.550 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage. Onyebuchi, who dealt in marbles in Lagos, was intercepted at the departure hall of Terminal II on August 16 while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight. According to the NDLEA, a search of his check-in bag uncovered the cocaine, which had been factory-fitted within the side walls and railings.

During interrogation, Onyebuchi disclosed that he had sold his marble business and all his assets to raise 23 million naira to purchase the consignment. He reportedly planned to sell the drugs in India for as much as 100 million naira. He remains in custody and is facing prosecution.

The arrest was part of a series of nationwide operations by the agency. In another major seizure in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street in the Ago Palace area between August 7 and 8. They recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, a controlled...