China-Bound Auto Parts Dealer Arrested at Kano Airport for Ingesting 95 Cocaine Wraps as NDLEA Busts Meth, Tramadol Networks Nationwide
Kano, Ibadan, Abuja, Lagos — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 62-year-old Lagos-based auto parts dealer, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, after he was found to have ingested 95 wraps of cocaine while attempting to travel to China.
The suspect was intercepted on Saturday, January 31, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940, scheduled to travel to China via Addis Ababa. A body scan conducted by NDLEA officers confirmed the presence of illicit drugs in his system, after which he was placed under medical observation.
During the observation period, Izueke expelled 95 jumbo-sized pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.589 kilograms, in seven separate excretions. In his statement, he told investigators that he ventured into drug trafficking to raise funds to complete a personal building project in his hometown, Iwollo, Enugu State.
Meth, Skunk, Tramadol Intercepted Across States
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recovered 627.7 kilograms of skunk (cannabis) from a makeshift warehouse located within Fums Plaza, Kubwa.
Attempts to smuggle methamphetamine concealed in MP3 speakers from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna were also foiled on Friday, February 6, when NDLEA officers intercepted the consignments aboard a commercial bus in Abuja. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Ebube Okeke in Zuba, FCT, with 173 grams of meth, while Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Eze Arinze, and Friday Michael were arrested in Kaduna on Saturday, February 7, as they arrived to collect another consignment weighing 28 grams.
Similarly, at the Dan-Anacha patrol point in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a suspect, Yusuf Abubakar (32), transporting Hollandia yoghurt packs from Lagos to Mubi, Adamawa State. Intelligence-led searches revealed that some of the yoghurt containers concealed 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Colos Factory, Tramadol Truck, Cocaine Seizures
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers arrested a Beninoise national, Shuaibu Abdulrahman (29), at Ibudo-Igboho village, Sooro Kishi, where 149.6 kilograms of skunk were recovered, concealed in rice shafts.
Another operation in Ibadan led to the arrest of Adeniyi Adeola (aka Prince) at Foko, Agbeni Market, where officers seized 10,820 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 117,820 capsules of tramadol from his truck.
Also in Ibadan, a notorious drug kingpin, Jimoh Nurudeen (40), was arrested on Saturday, February 7, at Badeku area, alongside his accomplice Ogundipe Yusuf (27). The suspect was operating an illegal facility producing Colorado, a synthetic cannabis variant. Recovered items included 8 litres of precursor chemicals, 14 grams of skunk, drug-making paraphernalia, ₦7,408,400 cash, and two vehicles — a Mercedes-Benz SUV and a Toyota Highlander.
Nationwide Crackdown Continues
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a fuel tanker transporting petrol from Lagos to Maiduguri, discovering 395,400 capsules of tramadol hidden within the vehicle.
In Imo State, a couple — Izuchukwu Azubuike (37) and Ifunaya Mmadueke (32) — were arrested with 203 kilograms of skunk, while 420 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a bush in Ikun Akoko, Ondo State.
At Badagry waterfront, Lagos, the NDLEA Marine Command seized 31 wraps of cocaine concealed in a handbag from a suspect, Eze Nodebechi Austin, who arrived from Côte d’Ivoire via a passenger boat.
Other arrests include Adekunle Oluwatosin Olajide, apprehended at Lagos Island with 3.6 kilograms of Canadian Loud and Colorado, and Emeka Okeke (37), arrested in Enugu, where quantities of skunk, methamphetamine, cocaine, molly, and ₦457,700 cash were recovered.
NDLEA Sustains Anti-Drug Campaign
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA commands nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities, including outreach programmes in Anambra, Oyo, Lagos, and Niger States.
Commending the officers involved, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged personnel nationwide to sustain professionalism and commitment in both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
The arrests and seizures were confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026, by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.
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