Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in food items while travelling to the United Kingdom.
The septuagenarian was apprehended in the departure hall on Saturday, 14 March 2026, as he attempted to board a British Airways flight, BA082, bound for Heathrow Airport in London.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect was intercepted after NDLEA operatives conducted a search of his luggage. The search reportedly uncovered blocks of cocaine weighing a total of 11 kilogrammes.
According to Babafemi, the illicit drugs had been carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons and concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, in an attempt to evade detection by airport security.
“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 concealed in his luggage,” the statement said.
“The septuagenarian, who claimed he was travelling to London in the United Kingdom for a vacation, was arrested at the departure hall while attempting to board British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow on Saturday, 14 March 2026. During a search of his luggage, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilogrammes were discovered concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper.”
The agency also disclosed a number of additional arrests and seizures carried out across different parts of the country in the past week.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street in Victoria Island while she was allegedly attempting to sell 89 grammes of cocaine and 20 grammes of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis. She was reportedly accompanied by her three children, including an infant, at the time of her arrest.
Babafemi said Olalowo told investigators the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji. He was subsequently arrested later the same day after further inquiries by NDLEA operatives. Investigations later revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for a similar drug-related offence in 2015.
In another operation on Lagos Island, NDLEA officers arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, after recovering 68,000 tramadol pills loaded in a truck allegedly intended for transport to Benin. A follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of another suspect, Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the consignment. Officers also recovered a parcel containing 1,000 tramadol tablets prepared for dispatch via waybill from his shop.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives arrested Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, with 386 kilogrammes of skunk in Bebeji, while another suspect, Isah Wako, was apprehended in Gwagwalada with 282.2 kilogrammes of the same substance.
In Edo State, officers raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, arresting a 33-year-old suspect, Chinedo Odalonu. During the operation, operatives destroyed 4,218.96 kilogrammes of skunk on two farms and recovered an additional 16.5 kilogrammes.
Meanwhile, at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers working with officials of the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers that had earlier been placed on a watch list following intelligence reports.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended officers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Edo states for the arrests and seizures recorded over the past week. He urged them to sustain ongoing efforts aimed at reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs across the country.
