The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 25-year-old businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, for allegedly attempting to traffic 72 wraps of cocaine to Portugal.

The NDLEA said Chukwulobelu, who resides in Portugal, was arrested at the airport’s departure hall on Thursday, September 25, 2026, while allegedly attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal via Addis Ababa.

According to the agency, the suspect had concealed the cocaine in his stomach and was wearing his wedding ring when he was intercepted.

The NDLEA said he was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he allegedly excreted 72 wraps of cocaine, a Class A illicit drug.

The agency disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

Babafemi said preliminary investigation revealed that Chukwulobelu had returned to Nigeria from Portugal to get married on September 13, 2026.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that he previously operated a car-decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos before relocating to Portugal in May 2023.

According to the NDLEA, Chukwulobelu said he turned to drug trafficking in an attempt to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.

The agency quoted him as saying he was intercepted at the Enugu airport with the cocaine in his stomach while preparing to travel back to Portugal.

NDLEA Seizes Over 2,500,000 Opioid Pills in Lagos

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives recovered 2,550,000 pills of Tramakings 225mg and 250mg and Royal Tapentadol 250mg at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

Babafemi said the pharmaceutical products, weighing 1,640.55kg, were discovered during the joint examination of three monitored consignments imported from India and Bangladesh through Qatar Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.

The agency said the seizures formed part of its ongoing operations against the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substances across the country.

262.5kg Cannabis Recovered in Bauchi

In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Umar Hamidu, 35, and Abdulkarim Salihu, 45, after allegedly recovering 300 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 262.5kg.

According to the agency, the cannabis was concealed in a false compartment at the bottom of a truck with registration number MUB757 YH.

The truck was intercepted along the Maiduguri bypass in Bauchi State.

Cannabis Farms Destroyed in Edo

The NDLEA also reported the destruction of two cannabis farms at Eko Camp, Ilushi, Edo State.

The farms had a combined estimated yield of 1,360.23kg of cannabis, according to the agency.

NDLEA officers carried out the operation with the support of soldiers.

Drug Seizures, Arrests Recorded in Lagos

In Lagos, two women, Odumabo Kehinde, 36, and Obiekwe Chioma, 40, were arrested at Anifowoshe Street, Mushin, with 3.4kg of skunk, the agency said.

Another suspect, Ugwu Johnson, 58, was reportedly intercepted at the Ebute-Ero motor park with 5.920kg of skunk.

The NDLEA said Johnson was also found with 2,400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 8,400 tablets of nitrazepam and 40,000 pills of tramadol.

Two Togolese Nationals Arrested With 305.6kg Cannabis

In Oyo State, the agency said two Togolese nationals, Yinusa Abdulsamad, 35, and Fatai Baba, 33, were arrested along the Iganna-Ilero road.

The suspects were allegedly found with 305.6kg of skunk concealed in two pickup vans.

Babafemi said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly involved in a cross-border trafficking network moving cannabis sourced from Ghana into Nigeria through the Oyo axis.

Five Arrested With 420 Cartons of Nitrous Oxide

At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos State, NDLEA operatives arrested five suspects over the alleged transportation of 420 cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.

The consignment weighed 1,688.4kg, according to the agency.

The suspects were identified as Kingsley John, 40; John Okeke, 44; Lamidi Ismaila, 40; Babatunde Samuel, 42; and Afeesu Idowu, 47.

Two vehicles allegedly used to transport the consignment from the border into Lagos were also seized.

Marwa Commends NDLEA Operatives

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the agency’s commands involved in the operations.

Marwa specifically recognised the efforts of personnel from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Seme and Bauchi Commands.

He urged NDLEA personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s ongoing approach to drug-control operations.

The NDLEA said investigations into the various cases are ongoing.