NDLEA Arrests 74-Year-Old Man With 11kg Cocaine Concealed in Food Items at Abuja Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 74-year-old man for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The suspect was apprehended at the airport’s departure hall while trying to board a British Airways flight BA082 bound for Heathrow, London, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, a search of the suspect’s luggage revealed blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper.
“The septuagenarian, who claimed he was travelling to London for vacation, was arrested at the departure hall while attempting to board British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow,” Babafemi said.
“During a search of his luggage, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms were discovered concealed inside food items carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons.”
Babafemi said the agency also recorded several arrests and seizures in other parts of the country.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, in the early hours of March 9 at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud.
She was reportedly with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. According to the agency, she claimed the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day.
Investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a similar offence in 2015.
In another operation on Lagos Island, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, after recovering 68,000 tramadol pills loaded in a truck allegedly destined for transport to Benin.
A follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the consignment, with officers recovering an additional parcel containing 1,000 tramadol tablets prepared for delivery.
In a separate raid at the market, operatives arrested another suspect, Nwanosike Kelvin, and recovered 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
Elsewhere, NDLEA officers arrested Magaji Dan Azumi with 386 kilograms of skunk in Bebeji, while Isah Wako was apprehended with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance in Gwagwalada.
In Orhionmwon Local Government Area, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve, arresting a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, destroying 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk on two farms and recovering an additional 16.5 kilograms.
At Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers working with customs officials also intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers that had been placed under watch following intelligence reports.
The agency said the operations formed part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and distribution across the country.
