The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 62-year-old Lagos-based ‘businessman’, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) for attempting to smuggle 1.589 kilograms of cocaine to China inside his stomach.

Izueke, who claimed to be a dealer in clothing and auto spare parts, was intercepted on January 31, 2026, during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940. A body scan confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his system, leading to a week-long excretion process.

“While under observation, the suspect who claims he’s into clothing and spare parts business in Lagos, expelled a total of 95 pellets of the class A drug in seven excretions,” the NDLEA confirmed in a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, on Sunday.

Under interrogation, the trafficker reportedly confessed to the crime, citing his desire to finish a building project in his hometown of Iwollo, Enugu State.

“In his statement, he claimed he decided to engage in illicit drug trafficking to raise enough money to complete the country home he’s building in his village,” the agency revealed.

In a separate operation in Ibadan, Oyo State, the NDLEA smashed a synthetic cannabis production facility. Operatives arrested Jimoh Nurudeen, 40, described as a “drug kingpin,” and his accomplice, Ogundipe Yusuf, 27.

The raid at the Badeku area yielded eight litres of precursor chemicals, various drug paraphernalia, and a staggering ₦7,408,400.00 in cash. Two luxury vehicles, a Mercedes Benz SUV and a Toyota Highlander, were also seized as proceeds of crime.

NDLEA described Nurudeen as a major supplier of synthetic drugs in the Ibadan axis.

“This facility was used for the production of Colorado, a highly dangerous synthetic cannabis,” NDLEA’s Spokesman stated.

Meanwhile, the Marine Command of the agency intercepted Eze Nodebechi Austin on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Yekeme, Badagry, as he arrived from Côte d’Ivoire.

A search of his belongings led to the seizure of 31 wraps of cocaine hidden inside a handbag, officials said.

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