NDLEA Says South African Woman Held With 36.65 kg of Cocaine

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said it arrested South African national Qhina Beauty at Lagos airport with 36.65 kilograms of cocaine, then detained a Lagos car dealer it alleges helped her. The cocaine was found in 30 blocks in her two travel bags, the agency said. Beauty was arrested on October 7, 2026, in the departure hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa via Doha. The agency said the cocaine was wrapped in cellophane and tape, divided among seven parcels and mixed with dried pepper. The NDLEA said Beauty told investigators she had arrived in Nigeria on September 30 to collect the consignment. According to the agency’s account, she said another South African woman recruited her and promised to pay R20,000 after delivery. The alleged recruiter has not been identified publicly in the reports. Investigators later arrested Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, a 46-year-old Lagos car dealer, on October 14 at Apple Junction in Lagos, the agency said. It reported that he admitted receiving Beauty at the airport and arranging accommodation for her, first at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin and later at...