NDLEA arrests businessman for cocaine trafficking at Kano airport
A 62-year-old businessman, Nwabueze Izueke, was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for allegedly attempting to traffic cocaine to China. According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the suspect ingested 95 wraps of cocaine to raise funds for a house he is building. The arrest was part of wider operations resulting in multiple drug seizures and arrests across several states. The agency says it remains committed to tackling drug trafficking networks nationwide.
What happened
- Nwabueze Izueke was apprehended on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Kano airport while trying to board a flight to China via Addis Ababa.
- He allegedly swallowed 95 jumbo-sized wraps of cocaine weighing 1.589 kilogrammes.
- NDLEA operatives also recovered 627.7 kilogrammes of skunk from a warehouse in Abuja and foiled attempts to smuggle methamphetamine from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna.
- Four suspects — Ebube Okeke, Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Eze Arinze, and Friday Michael — were arrested in connection with drug consignments.
- Additional arrests and seizures were made in Taraba, Oyo, Imo, and Ondo states, including the recovery of large quantities of drugs and cash.
