Authorities apprehend 74-year-old individual in possession of 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in ground pepper at Abuja airport

A 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was apprehended by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items while travelling to the United Kingdom.

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The suspect was caught at the departure hall of the Abuja airport on Saturday, March 14, 2026, while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow Airport, London, according to the NDLEA.

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A search of Emeka's luggage revealed blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons and hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper, the agency said.

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In a separate incident, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, March 9, for allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.

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The suspect was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest, and she reportedly told investigators that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day.

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Investigations revealed that Olatunji had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015, the agency disclosed.

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NDLEA operatives also intercepted a large consignment of opioids in separate operations on Lagos Island, arresting two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, at Ebute Ero after 68,000 pills of tramadol (250mg and 225mg) were discovered in a truck they were preparing to transport to the Benin.

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A follow-up operation at Idumota Market led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian, and a search of his shop uncovered a parcel containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol prepared for waybill delivery.

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In another raid at the same market, NDLEA operatives arrested Nwanosike Kelvin and recovered 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from his shop.

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The agency also recorded seizures in other parts of the country, including the arrest of a 42-year-old suspect, Magaji Dan Azumi, in Kano State with 386 kilograms of skunk on March 10.

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Similarly, NDLEA officers in the Federal Capital Territory recovered 282.2 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Isah Wako, in the Gwagwalada area on March 13.

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In Edo State, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Aduan village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, 33, was arrested, and 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two farms were destroyed, while 16.5 kilograms of the substance were recovered.

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No fewer than 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in two containers at the Apapa Port during a joint examination by NDLEA officers, personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on March 14.

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The containers had been placed under watch following credible intelligence about the concealment of opioids in the shipment, the NDLEA said.

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The agency's War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities continued across the country during the week, including awareness lectures in schools in Nasarawa, Oyo, Delta and Cross River states, among others.

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NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Buba Marwa praised operatives nationwide for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, while commending officers of the agency’s commands in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the FCT for the arrests and seizures.