… NDLEA intercepts 2,000kg of Ghanaian cannabis at Lagos Beach
Felix Temitope, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - A 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone life-saving surgery to remove 57 out of 81 wraps of cocaine that remained stuck in his stomach for seven days after ingestion. The exploratory laparotomy was carried out at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) following complications that threatened his life.
Igbokwe was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Sunday, January 26, 2025. A body scan confirmed that he had illicit drugs concealed in his system, leading to his immediate detention for excretion observation.
Investigations revealed that Igbokwe, who claimed to be a clothing trader at Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos, had embarked on his journey on January 22, 2025. He traveled from Lagos to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he ingested 81 wraps of cocaine on January 23. He then boarded a flight to Beirut, Lebanon, intending to deliver the drugs for a payment of $3,000.
However, upon arrival in Lebanon, he was denied entry because he had less than the required $2,000 cash. Deported back to Addis Ababa, he unsuccessfully attempted to excrete the drugs before continuing his journey to Lagos on January 25. Upon arrival in Nigeria the following day, NDLEA officers arrested him at MMIA.
Despite five days under NDLEA observation, Igbokwe could only expel 24 of the 81 drug pellets, even after medical intervention at the agency’s facility and LASUTH. With his life hanging in the balance due to other underlying health conditions, doctors recommended emergency surgery.
On Thursday, January 30, following consent from his wife and brother, surgeons performed an exploratory laparotomy at LASUTH, successfully extracting the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine. In total, the agency recovered 1.943 kilograms of cocaine from his body.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a large consignment of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at a beach in Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday, January 29. Two suspects, Sunday Awoyede and Christopher Cletus, were caught attempting to load the 2,000-kilogram shipment into a truck. The suspects, the drugs, and the truck were seized.
Additionally, another suspect, Lawal Idris Olasunkanmi, was arrested the same day in Mushin, Lagos, with 55 kilograms of skunk.
Across the country, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative through sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to schools, workplaces, religious centers, and traditional institutions. Schools that hosted WADA events included Grand Light Model School, Akwa Ibom; Community Grammar School, Iganna, Oyo State; Ebute Afuye Primary School, Lagos; Akwakuma Girls Secondary School, Imo State; and Federal Government College, Kebbe, Sokoto State.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers paid a WADA advocacy visit to the palace of the Attah of Igala, HRH Mathew Opaluwa Oguche, to strengthen community support in the fight against drug abuse.
Commending the vigilance and professionalism of NDLEA officers at MMIA, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), reiterated that drug traffickers not only endanger others but also put their own lives at grave risk.
He also lauded the Lagos State Command for intercepting the massive skunk shipment and praised NDLEA officers nationwide for their dedication to reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs through enforcement and advocacy.
The agency remains committed to its mission of ensuring a drug-free Nigeria through strategic operations, preventive measures, and community engagement.
