Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, identified as Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, while allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.550 kilogrammes of cocaine from Nigeria to India through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to the NDLEA, Onyebuchi, who deals in marble in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India. The agency said a search of his checked-in luggage revealed the cocaine concealed within the walls and railings of the bag.
The anti-narcotics agency further alleged that the businessman had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment. He reportedly expected to sell the cocaine for as much as N100 million in India.
The suspect remains in NDLEA custody pending prosecution. As with all criminal allegations, the claims against him remain subject to due legal process and determination by a competent court.
NDLEA Recovers N2.6bn Codeine Consignment
The arrest formed part of a wider series of drug-control operations carried out by the NDLEA across Nigeria.
In Lagos, operatives acting on intelligence reportedly raided a warehouse located within a residential compound on Hakeem Dosumu Street in the Ago Palace area of Okota. The operation led to the recovery of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
The NDLEA valued the controlled substance at more than N2.6 billion. The seizure was made between August 7 and 8, 2026, according to the agency.
In another Lagos operation, NDLEA personnel reportedly raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin identified as 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode in Ipaja. The agency said it recovered 324 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million. Two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla, were also recovered.
Drug Seizures Recorded Across Several States
The NDLEA said its operations extended beyond Lagos, with arrests and seizures reported in Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Plateau, Kano and Edo states.
In Kwara State, two suspects were arrested with 55.96kg of skunk, while two others were intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with thousands of ampoules of controlled pharmaceutical substances, including pentazocine and tramadol injections.
In Delta State, officers reportedly seized more than 124,000 tramadol pills alongside codeine syrup, rohypnol, diazepam and injectable controlled substances.
In Plateau State, another operation resulted in the interception of a vehicle carrying 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a tramadol-based product, according to the agency.
Kano State also featured prominently in the operation. NDLEA officials reportedly arrested six suspects along the Zaria-Kano Road and recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, in addition to cocaine, methamphetamine, codeine syrup and synthetic cannabis.
The agency also reported the seizure of 106.8kg of skunk in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State following a separate raid.
Broader Implications for Nigeria’s Drug-Control Efforts
The latest seizures underscore the scale and diversity of illicit drug trafficking networks confronting Nigeria, ranging from cocaine intended for international markets to large quantities of pharmaceutical opioids and cannabis circulating within the country.
The case involving the India-bound businessman also highlights the continued use of international airports as potential routes for trafficking illicit substances. Previous NDLEA operations have similarly involved passengers attempting to move cocaine and other drugs to India and other international destinations.
The NDLEA’s latest operations demonstrate the agency’s continuing emphasis on intelligence-led interdiction, airport surveillance, seizures and arrests. However, sustained enforcement will need to be accompanied by effective prosecution, disruption of trafficking networks and stronger demand-reduction programmes to produce lasting results.
The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel involved in the operations and stressed the importance of combining drug-supply reduction with demand-reduction measures.
For Obaland magazine, the development is significant not merely because of the monetary value attached to the seized substances, but because it illustrates the continuing challenge posed by transnational drug trafficking and the need for coordinated enforcement, judicial action and public awareness across Nigeria.
Sources
NDLEA arrests an India-bound businessman with 1.55kg of cocaine at Lagos airport as the agency reports N3.6bn worth of drug seizures across Nigeria.