Italy-Based Businessman Arrested at Enugu Airport Excretes 98 Wraps of Cocaine

An Italy-based Nigerian businessman, Joseph Cyril, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg.

Cyril, 30, was arrested on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the departure hall of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, which was headed to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.

He was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he excreted all 98 wraps of the illicit drug.

Investigations revealed that the suspect had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the cocaine at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.

According to the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the suspect told investigators that he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for €3,500, which he intended to use to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.

Babafemi disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, adding that NDLEA operatives had also thwarted attempts by drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers to Saudi Arabia.

The consignment was intercepted at a courier company in Lagos, while another 500g of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack was seized at another logistics company in the state on Monday, August 3, while being sent to Italy.

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, August 4, intercepted 2.3kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at another shipping company in Lagos. The consignment was coming from the United States.

Meanwhile, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway on Tuesday intercepted a truck heading to the northern part of the country with 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.

Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the consignment, while 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu Forest during a raid on Monday, August 3.

In Oyo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on Monday, August 3, recovering 731.03kg of illicit drugs and arresting a 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson. Her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is however at large.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Wednesday, August 5.

In Abia State, a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6. About 7kg of skunk was recovered from him.

In Lagos, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt. At the time of his arrest, 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.

Also in Lagos, NDLEA officers, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg during a joint examination of a 40-foot container at the TinCan Port Complex on Tuesday, August 4. A suspect, Larry Nnaji, has been arrested in connection with the seizure.

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities across the country, with officers taking anti-drug messages to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The activities included WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.

The River

s State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.

Babafemi quoted the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), as commending officers and men of the Directorate of General Investigations (DOGI), Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and TinCan Commands for their successful operations.

Marwa urged the officers and their colleagues across the country to sustain the ongoing balanced approach to the Agency’s drug control efforts.