The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drugs, intercepting a newlywed businessman who ingested 72 wraps of cocaine allegedly destined for Portugal and seizing more than 1,640kg of high-potency opioids in a series of operations across several states.
The 25-year-old suspect, Lovely Chukwulobelu, was intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Lisbon, Portugal, via Addis Ababa.
According to a statement released on Sunday, September 27, 2026, by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Chukwulobelu was arrested at the departure hall on Thursday, September 25, after officers discovered that he had ingested cocaine.
He was subsequently placed under excretion observation and egested all 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug.
The Portugal-based businessman, who reportedly wore a fresh wedding ring when he was arrested, told investigators that he operates a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos, before relocating to Portugal in May 2023.
He said he had recently returned to Nigeria for his wedding, which took place on September 13, 2026.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect confessed that he became involved in the illicit drug trade to offset the heavy financial expenses incurred during his wedding.
1,640kg opioid haul in Lagos
In another major breakthrough, NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, seized 2,550,000 high-potency opioid pills weighing 1,640.55kg.
The seizure followed the joint examination of three monitored cargo consignments on Tuesday, September 22.
The consignments contained Tramaking 225mg and 250mg and Royal Tapentadol 250mg. Investigations showed that the shipments originated from India and Bangladesh and arrived in Nigeria aboard Qatar Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines flights.
262.5kg cannabis seized in Bauchi
Along the Maiduguri bypass in Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck with registration number MUB 757 YH.
The truck had a professionally fabricated false bottom containing 300 compressed blocks of skunk, a high-potency cannabis variant, weighing 262.5kg.
Two suspects, Umar Hamidu, 35, and Abdulkarim Salihu, 45, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Cannabis plantations destroyed in Edo
In Edo State, NDLEA tactical teams, supported by military personnel, raided Eko Camp in Ilushi on Wednesday, September 23.
The operation led to the destruction of two large cannabis plantations with an estimated crop yield of 1,360.23kg.
Lagos operations yield drugs and pharmaceutical substances
In Mushin, Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a location on Anifowoshe Street on Saturday, September 26, arresting two women, Odumabo Kehinde, 36, and Obiekwe Chioma, 40.
The operation resulted in the recovery of 3.4kg of skunk.
At the Ebute-Ero motor park, operatives also arrested 58-year-old Ugwu Johnson with 5.920kg of skunk, 2,400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 8,400 tablets of nitrazepam and 40,000 pills of tramadol.
Cross-border syndicate busted in Oyo
The agency also disrupted a cross-border drug trafficking operation along the Iganna-Ilero Road in Oyo State.
On Saturday, September 26, operatives intercepted two specialised pickup vans and recovered 305.6kg of Ghanaian-sourced skunk allegedly being transported into Nigeria for distribution on the black market.
Two Togolese nationals identified as Yinusa Abdulsamad, 35, and Fatai Baba, 33, were arrested.
420 cartons of nitrous oxide seized at Seme
At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA operatives seized 420 cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas”, weighing 1,688.4kg.
Two vehicles allegedly configured to transport the substance from the border into Lagos were also impounded.
Five suspects arrested in connection with the seizure were identified as Kingsley John, 40; John Chibuike Okeke, 44; Lamidi Ismaila, 40; Babatunde Samuel, 42; and Afeesu Idowu, 47.
NDLEA steps up War Against Drug Abuse campaign
Beyond the enforcement operations, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.
WADA lectures were delivered to students and faculty members at Community High School, Saki, Oyo State, and Auchi College, Edo State.
The agency also conducted awareness campaigns at the Alkali Modibbo Islamic Centre in Dukku, Gombe State, and Junior Arabic Secondary School in Kahu, Kibiya Local Government Area of Kano State.
In Delta State, the NDLEA Delta Ports Command paid a courtesy and advocacy visit to the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatshe III, seeking traditional institutional support for the drug-free campaign.
Commending the officers and men involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised personnel of the MMIA, AIIA, Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Seme and Bauchi Commands for what he described as tactical precision.
Marwa charged NDLEA operatives nationwide to sustain the agency’s ongoing balanced approach to drug control, focusing on both supply reduction and prevention as part of the War Against Drug Abuse.