NDLEA arrests businessman for smuggling cocaine in clothes
Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, a businessman based in Brazil, was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly importing shirts and towels impregnated with liquid cocaine into Nigeria. The arrest took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, after he arrived from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. NDLEA officials discovered 14 towels and shirts soaked in 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine in his luggage. The agency also made other significant drug-related arrests and seizures across several states.
What happened
- Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu was arrested at the Lagos airport after arriving from Brazil via Ethiopia on June 11, 2026.
- NDLEA operatives found 14 towels and shirts soaked in 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine, dried and ironed to conceal the drugs.
- The suspect claimed he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, running an African restaurant, and was visiting Nigeria to see his wife and buy foodstuff.
- In a related case, Chidimma Sunday was handed over to NDLEA on June 10 in Abia State with 1.8kg of skunk, and Abubakar Usman was arrested in Rivers State with various illicit drugs.
- NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa praised the agency’s personnel across multiple states for their successful operations and urged them to continue their efforts.
