The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Ezeokoli Sylva, a 59-year-old businessman, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 700 grams of cocaine concealed in his stomach.
Ezeokoli was returning to Nigeria after 35 years in Brazil.
The suspect, who returned from São Paulo, Brazil, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on 29th November 2024, expelled 29 wraps of cocaine during excretion observation after a body scan revealed the hidden substances.
NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday said the 59-year-old Ezeokoli was arrested on Friday 29th November 2024 at the E-Arrival hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Ethiopia Airlines flight via Addis Ababa.
“When he was taken for body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach. As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 700grams.
“In his statement, the suspect claimed he operates an African store in Brazil where he sells provisions, shoes and clothes. He added that he bought the illicit consignment in Sao Paulo to resell in Nigeria with a view to raising substantial capital to boost his business,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Investigation and General Investigation, DOGI, on Tuesday 26th November intercepted two consignments containing cocaine and pentazocine injection going to the United Kingdom via a courier company in Lagos.
“While the cocaine weighing 200grams was concealed in local fabrics, 40 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 110grams were hidden in cartons.
“In Kano, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 28th November arrested three suspects: Jamilu Adamu, 38; Umar Musa, 32; and Bunu Ali, 27, with 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 3,135,000 pills exol-5 at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road,” Babafemi disclosed.
He added that no fewer than 2, 120 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis produced in Ghana were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Ilesan beach, Lagos on Thursday 28th November.
A suspect, Onibogi Muftau was arrested in connection with the seizure while four vehicles that were to convey the shipments from the water front were also recovered.
“This came on the heels of the seizure of 472kg of the same psychoactive substance at Idi-Iroko, Imeko area of Ogun state on Monday 25th November.
“In Edo state, two suspects: Monday Onyenemue, 60, and Evans Omogiede, 42, were on Thursday 28th November arrested and 185.6kg cannabis as well as a Toyota Previa bus marked BEN 06XL conveying the consignment recovered during an intelligence-led raid by NDLEA operatives at Ukuwague street, Benin city,” he said.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
