NDLEA Intercepts Lagos Businessman with 95 Cocaine Wraps at Kano Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a Lagos-based businessman, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, for attempting to traffic 1.589 kilograms of cocaine by ingesting the substance. The 62-year-old was arrested during outward passenger clearance at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Saturday, January 31, 2026, as he prepared to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to China via Addis Ababa.
According to a statement by NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was placed under observation, leading to the expulsion of 95 jumbo-sized wraps of cocaine in seven separate excretions. During interrogation, Izueke, who claimed to operate a clothing and auto spare parts business in Lagos, stated his motivation was to raise funds to complete a country home in his village of Iwollo, Enugu State. This arrest is part of a sustained nationwide offensive against drug trafficking, mirroring the vigilance seen when authorities in other regions, like the Kwara Govt achieves significant milestones in security, focus on systemic threats.
The NDLEA’s operations extended beyond the airport interception. In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives recovered 627.7 kilograms of skunk from a makeshift warehouse in Kubwa and foiled attempts to smuggle methamphetamine concealed inside MP3 speakers to Abuja and Kaduna. In Ibadan, a suspected drug kingpin operating a synthetic cannabis production facility was arrested, with precursor chemicals, skunk, cash, and vehicles seized. These coordinated efforts demonstrate a strategic push to dismantle networks, a priority that should stop media attacks on agencies’ methodologies and instead highlight their critical work.
This case underscores a recurring smuggling method, as the NDLEA has repeatedly intercepted traffickers who ingest drug wraps. Similar attempts were recorded at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport in early 2026. Alongside enforcement, the NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns across schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide. The agency’s multifaceted approach is crucial, much as strategic developments in other sectors draw attention, such as when investors converge Owerri for economic forums or as debates on policy unfold in various spheres. The commitment to public safety remains paramount, reflecting a dedicated focus that transcends regional boundaries, from the airports of Kano to the broader national landscape.
