Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage.

The suspect, who claimed he was travelling to London in the United Kingdom for vacation, was intercepted at the airport’s departure hall on Saturday while trying to board a British Airways flight BA082 bound for Heathrow Airport.

According to the agency, a search of his luggage uncovered blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons, hidden inside food items including ground dry pepper.

In a related operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street in Victoria Island while she was allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis. She was found with her three children, including an infant.

Investigators later arrested her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, after she claimed the drugs belonged to him. Olatunji reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and further checks showed he had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a similar offence in 2015.

NDLEA also carried out operations on Lagos Island where two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, were arrested at Ebute Ero with 68,000 pills of tramadol after loading the drugs into a truck allegedly meant for transportation to the Benin Republic.

A follow-up raid at Idumota market led to the arrest of another suspect, Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the consignment. Officers also recovered a parcel containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol prepared for waybill delivery. In another raid at the same market, a suspect identified as Nwanosike Kelvin was arrested with 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection in his shop.

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 42-year-old suspect, Magaji Dan Azumi, with 386 kilograms of skunk in the Bebeji area, while another suspect, Isah Wako, was apprehended in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance.

Similarly, operatives in Edo State raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Aduan village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where they arrested a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, and destroyed 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk on two farms, recovering an additional 16.5 kilograms.

In a major seizure at the Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with customs officials and other security agencies, intercepted two containers carrying no fewer than 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup. The containers had been placed on a watch list following intelligence reports on the concealment of opioids.

Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools and communities in several states, including Nasarawa, Oyo, Delta, Cross River and Edo.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers from the Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and Federal Capital Territory commands for the arrests and seizures, urging them to maintain a balance between reducing drug supply and tackling drug demand across the country.