The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Nigeria-born businessman based in Brazil after seizing 1.60 kilogrammes of cocaine at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The suspect was detained on Thursday during the arrival clearance of a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg, following intelligence-led surveillance, according to the NDLEA.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said the cocaine was concealed on the suspect’s body and inside his footwear.
A body scan reportedly indicated the presence of illicit substances, leading officers to conduct a strip search. A large wrap of cocaine was found tied to the suspect’s right thigh, while two additional wraps were recovered from the soles of his shoes.
NDLEA officials said the 47-year-old admitted buying the drugs in Brazil with plans to sell them in Nigeria to raise business capital and pay for the naming ceremony of his newborn child.
The suspect, who has lived in São Paulo since 2008, told investigators he had been running a toy business for about nine years.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers seized 55 jumbo bags of “Canadian Loud” cannabis weighing 1,183 kilogrammes at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos. The shipment, imported from Montreal, Canada, was discovered hidden inside two vehicles during a joint inspection involving customs officials and other security agencies.
The NDLEA said it has also continued nationwide drug-abuse prevention campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, targeting schools and communities across several states.
