The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two Nigeria-bound passengers from Brazil after they excreted a combined 116 wraps of heroin and cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the suspects, identified as 46-year-old Ofoma Sunday and 36-year-old Ukachukwu Frank Ikechukwu, were intercepted on separate Ethiopian Airlines flights from São Paulo via Addis Ababa. Both men were placed under observation after body scans revealed drug ingestion.
“Ofoma expelled 111 wraps of heroin weighing 1.452 kilograms in eight excretions, while Ukachukwu discharged five wraps of cocaine weighing 145 grams,” Babafemi confirmed.
Investigations further led to the arrest of 55-year-old Nweke Jude Chukwudi at a Lagos hotel, who was allegedly assigned to retrieve the heroin consignment.
During interrogation, Ukachukwu reportedly confessed to purchasing nine wraps of cocaine in Brazil, concealing them in his anus. He said he discarded two during transit due to severe pain and reinserted seven before boarding, but expelled two more mid-flight. He also disclosed that he had previously lived in the United States before being deported in 2022.
The NDLEA said the seizures were part of a week-long crackdown in which officers also intercepted drug shipments hidden in phone chargers, food items and underwear.
Commending the operatives, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the arrests as a major step in the agency’s war on illicit drugs.
“These arrests and seizures represent a significant milestone in our determined effort to dismantle drug trafficking organisations operating in Nigeria and across the globe. We remain focused on preventing criminal networks from targeting our youth population with illicit substances and tarnishing Nigeria’s image internationally,” Marwa stated.
