Nigerian anti-narcotics officers have arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman accused of ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine before attempting to fly back to Europe, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Sunday.
Joseph Cyril was arrested on August 2 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu during the screening of passengers for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa, with onward connections to France and Italy.
The suspect was placed under excretion observation and passed 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.51 kilograms, the agency said.
Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and ingested the cocaine at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu, according to the NDLEA.
He told investigators he had operated a business in Italy for years and agreed to traffic the drugs for 3,500 euros to raise funds to relocate to Germany, where his family lives.
The arrest was part of a series of drug seizures across Nigeria in recent days.
In Lagos, officers intercepted 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers destined for Saudi Arabia through a courier company. They also seized 500 grams of cocaine hidden in a backpack bound for Italy and 2.3 kilograms of “Loud”, a synthetic cannabis strain, arriving from the United States.
On the Akure-Ilesha expressway, officers seized 1,633 kilograms of cannabis, locally known as skunk, concealed in bags of rice shafts. Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested.
Another 147 kilograms of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest.
In Oyo State, a raid on a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire local government area, yielded 731.03 kilograms of drugs. A 57-year-old woman, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
In Edo State, officers backed by soldiers recovered 604.5 kilograms of skunk from Ewe Luleha in Owan West local government area.
In Abia, 31-year-old Chibuike Charles was arrested during a raid in Osisioma, with seven kilograms of skunk recovered.
Lagos officers also arrested Adome Claude Sikuru, a suspected drug dealer who had been wanted for three months, at the fibre market drug enclave in Badagry. They recovered 88.5 kilograms of skunk.
At Tincan port, a joint operation involving the NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies uncovered 309.4 kilograms of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies concealed in a 40-foot container.
The consignment comprised 73 cartons containing 442 packets. A suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested.
The NDLEA also said its commands nationwide had continued public awareness campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme in schools, places of worship, workplaces and communities.
Campaigns were held at Islamic High School in Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy in Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya in Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command also conducted a WADA advocacy visit to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd) commended officers of the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan commands for the operations.
He urged them to maintain their commitment to the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
