The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse. In a dramatic incident, a 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, underwent emergency surgery to remove 81 wraps of cocaine from his stomach after a failed drug smuggling attempt.
According to a press statement released on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Igbokwe was arrested on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan revealed the presence of illicit drugs in his system, prompting his immediate arrest and subsequent medical observation.
Investigations revealed that Igbokwe, who claims to be a cloth merchant in the Oshodi area of Lagos, had ingested 81 wraps of cocaine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 23, 2025. He was en route to Beirut, Lebanon, to deliver the illicit consignment for a fee of $3,000. However, upon arrival in Beirut, he was denied entry due to insufficient funds and deported back to Addis Ababa.
After unsuccessful attempts to expel the drugs, Igbokwe boarded a flight to Lagos on January 25, 2025, still carrying the cocaine wraps in his stomach. Upon his arrival at MMIA, NDLEA operatives flagged him during routine passenger clearance, leading to his arrest.
For five days, Igbokwe was under medical observation at the NDLEA facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where he excreted only 24 pellets. Due to life-threatening complications and underlying medical conditions, doctors performed an exploratory laparotomy on January 30, 2025, to remove the remaining 57 pellets.
In total, 81 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.943 kilograms, were recovered from Igbokwe’s stomach.
NDLEA Intercepts 2,000kg of Ghanaian Cannabis in Lagos
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted a massive shipment of 2,000 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at Lekki Beach on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Two suspects, Sunday Awoyede and Christopher Cletus, were arrested while attempting to load the drugs into a truck.
Additionally, another suspect, Lawal Idris Olasunkanmi, was apprehended the same day in the Mushin area of Lagos with 55 kilograms of skunk, a variant of cannabis.
NDLEA Intensifies War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)
The NDLEA continues to intensify its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. Over the past week, the agency has conducted sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to schools, workplaces, and traditional rulers’ palaces across the country.
In Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, and Sokoto states, NDLEA officials educated students and staff on the dangers of drug abuse. The Kogi State Command also paid a visit to the Attah of Igala, HRH Mathew Opaluwa Oguche, to seek royal support for the campaign.
NDLEA Chairman Issues Stern Warning
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the officers involved in Igbokwe’s arrest and the cannabis interception. He warned drug traffickers of the grave risks they face.
“Those involved in the illicit drug trade are not only destroying the lives of others but also putting their own lives at great risk,” Marwa stated. “The NDLEA will continue to pursue and bring to justice anyone involved in this criminal enterprise.”
Marwa also praised the Lagos State Command for preventing the large cannabis shipment from entering the country and acknowledged the efforts of NDLEA officers nationwide in balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction through WADA initiatives.
The NDLEA remains committed to its mandate of eradicating illicit drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. The public is encouraged to support the agency’s efforts by reporting suspicious activities to the nearest NDLEA office.
