Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the federal government of Nigeria’s main anti-narcotics agency, have arrested a 74-year-old man at the country’s main airport in the capital city of Abuja after authorities discovered a large quantity of cocaine hidden inside food items in his luggage.
The suspect, identified as Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was intercepted at the departure hall of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while preparing to board a flight to the United Kingdom. Officials said the arrest took place on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, March 15, 2026, by the spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, officers discovered 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside food items during a detailed search of the suspect’s luggage.
Babafemi said the elderly traveller had checked in for British Airways flight BA082, which was scheduled to depart for Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom, when officers conducted the inspection that led to the discovery.
“A 74-year-old grandpa, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after a large consignment of cocaine was discovered in foil papers and balloons concealed in his luggage. The septuagenarian, who claimed he was travelling to London, United Kingdom, for vacation, was arrested at the departure hall while attempting to board British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
“During a search of his luggage, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms were discovered concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons,” the statement partly read.
Okay News reports that the arrest is part of a broader series of anti-drug operations carried out across Nigeria in recent days by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency as authorities attempt to reduce the trafficking and consumption of illegal drugs.
In another operation in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria located in the country’s southwest region, officers arrested a woman identified as Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street in the Victoria Island district.
According to the agency, the suspect was allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of a cannabis strain known as Canadian Loud. She was arrested in the early hours of Monday, March 9, 2026.
Authorities said the woman was accompanied by her three children at the time of the arrest, including an infant.
“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Monday, March 9, arrested Mrs. Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud. She was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She confessed the illicit drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later taken into custody the same day while his wife was immediately released.
“Ibrahim confirmed ownership of the illicit drugs in his statement, while further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted, and sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.”
Further enforcement operations were carried out on Lagos Island, where officers intercepted a truck loaded with 68,000 tramadol tablets. Two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, were arrested in connection with the shipment, which investigators believe was intended for transportation to the neighbouring West African country of Benin.
A follow-up raid at Idumota Market in Lagos led to the arrest of another suspect, Nnamdi Cyprian, who investigators believe owned the shipment. Officers also recovered a package containing 1,000 tramadol tablets that had been prepared for delivery through a waybill service.
During another raid at the same market, officers arrested a suspect identified as Nwanosike Kelvin and seized 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency also reported major cannabis seizures in other parts of the country.
In Bebeji, a town in Kano State in northern Nigeria, officers arrested a 42-year-old suspect identified as Magaji Dan Azumi with 386 kilograms of cannabis, locally known as skunk. In a separate operation in Gwagwalada, an area within the Federal Capital Territory, authorities arrested another suspect, Isah Wako, with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance.
In southern Nigeria, officers carried out a raid inside the Egwa Forest Reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. During the operation, authorities arrested a 33-year-old suspect identified as Chinedo Odalonu.
Officials said they destroyed 4,218.96 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on two farms within the forest reserve and recovered an additional 16.5 kilograms during the operation.
At Apapa Seaport in Lagos, which is Nigeria’s busiest maritime gateway, officers working with the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted two shipping containers carrying 339,800 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup. The shipment had been placed on a watch list following intelligence reports.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), praised officers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Edo states for the recent arrests and seizures.
He encouraged them to continue their operations aimed at reducing both the supply of illegal drugs and the demand for them across Nigeria.
