By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a China-based Nigerian businessman and two Angolans who excreted a total of 236 wraps of cocaine.

This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the suspects were arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, respectively.

He said that the China-based businessman was arrested at Abuja airport on Feb. 4, while on board a Qatar Airways flight 1432, from Kano to China enroute Abuja/Doha.

The NDLEA spokesman said that the agency operatives at the Abuja airport acting on intelligence demanded that the suspect be deboarded, following which he was taken for body scan.

Babafemi said that the result confirmed the suspect ingested illicit drug and consequently was placed under observation during which he excreted a total of 52 pellets of cocaine that weighed 735.95 grammes.

“In his statement, the suspect said he was into business on Lagos Island before relocating to Guanzhou, China in 2024,” he said.

Also, the NDLEA spokesman said that the Angolans were intercepted on Feb, 4 at the screening point of the departure hall of Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

This, he said, was during the outward clearance of passengers going to Istanbul, Turkey via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940.

“When they were taken for body scan, they tested positive for ingesting illicit drug. As a result, they were kept under observation for possible excretion.

“They excreted a total of 76 wraps weighing 920 grammes in seven excretions, and 108 pellets that weighed 1.33 kilogrammes in five excretions, respectively.

“During interview, the suspects who hail from Hoji Ya Henda in Luanda, the capital of Angola, claimed they were recruited by a Luanda-based automobile spare parts dealer who promised to pay them $3000 each upon successful delivery of the consignments in Turkey,” he said.

Meanwhile, Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives also busted an attempt by a convicted drug kingpin to export 1.10 kilogrammes of cocaine.

He said that the drugs were concealed in processed cassava granules, popularly known as Garri, to London, United Kingdom, on a Virgin Atlantic flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.

“The suspect is presently serving a five-year jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos, after NDLEA arrested him in 2025 in connection with a case of unlawful conspiracy to export 17.90kg cocaine.

“The suspect was successfully prosecuted, convicted and sentenced in charge number FHC/L/925C/2025, by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

“Not ready to give up on his criminal enterprise, the convict who is the Chief Executive Officer of a Logistics company, initiated the latest scheme from behind the prison wall to export the 1.10kg cocaine, using his company.

“His lid was however uncovered on Thursday, Feb. 12 when NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport intercepted a consignment of compressed block of cocaine, hidden in a sack of Garri which was further packed inside a carton.

“A staff of the logistics company, who presented the consignment for export, was promptly arrested.

“Investigations revealed that the suspect initiated the trafficking scheme from prison and directed his staff to pick the consignment at a location in Oshodi,” Babafemi said. (NAN)

Update news