Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a businessman, Ezeokoli Sylva, upon his return to Nigeria from Brazil after 35 years, with 700grams of cocaine in his stomach.
The discovery was made following his arrest by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to thelensng by the Director, Media & Advocacy of the Agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
“The 59-year-old was arrested on Friday 29th November 2024 at the E-Arrival hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Ethiopia Airlines flight via Addis Ababa. When he was taken for body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach.
“As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 700grams,” the statement noted.
Mr. Babafemi said that Sylva in his statement, claimed that he operates an African store in Brazil, where he sells provisions, shoes and clothes.
The suspect added that he bought the illicit consignment in Sao Paulo to resell in Nigeria with a view to raising substantial capital to boost his business.
