The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, after he was found to have ingested 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes while attempting to travel to Europe through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Cyril was arrested at the departure hall of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Sunday, August 2, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, ET930.
A statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled the 98 wraps of cocaine.
According to the agency, the investigations showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and ingested the cocaine at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before proceeding to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.
“The investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on 13th July 2026 and ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before proceeding to Enugu to board his flight to Europe on Sunday, 2nd August.
“In his statement, he claimed he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug consignment for a fee of 3,500 Euros to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based,” the statement partly read.
Similarly, in Abia State, a suspected drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at Samec by Powerline Base in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6. Seven kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from the suspect.
The agency said a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was also arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry, Lagos, on Saturday, August 8, after a three-month manhunt. A total of 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.
At the Tincan Port Complex, Lagos, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, intercepted 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg.
The consignment was discovered during the joint examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4, while a suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the agency’s Drug and Controlled Substances Unit, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Abia and Tincan commands for the operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country during the week under review.
