NDLEA Arrests Businessman in Enugu for Swallowing 90 Wraps of Cocaine
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 50-year-old businessman, Osuoha Christian Iheanacho, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine. The arrest, which occurred on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, followed months of surveillance.
Osuoha was intercepted upon arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight. During a mandatory excretion observation, he expelled 90 cocaine pellets weighing 2.019 kilograms over seven sessions. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, investigations revealed that the suspect, who operated a phone and accessories business in Lagos and Gabon, had embarked on a circuitous journey from Gabon to Cameroon and then to Ethiopia, where he ingested the drugs. His final destination was Lagos.
Osuoha admitted that financial struggles in his business pushed him to engage in the illicit trade.
Other Significant Drug Operations
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives dismantled a cocaine cartel on November 21, arresting the group’s leader, 42-year-old Ndive Maxwell Obinna, along with five associates in Okota, Isolo. The bust yielded 2.412 kilograms of cocaine. The arrested members included Okeke Gloria Ifeoma, the group’s stash keeper, and four other accomplices.
Similarly, a 58-year-old Chinese national, Tianzhen Yen, alias “Jackie,” was arrested in Ikeja for operating a trans-border drug syndicate. A subsequent search of his hotel room uncovered cocaine, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. The arrest followed the interception of his associate, Yakubu Emmanuel Mark, at the Gbaji checkpoint in Badagry with 750 grams of cocaine.
At Tincan Seaport, Lagos, officials uncovered 92 parcels of synthetic cannabis, “Loud,” weighing 23.25kg. The drugs were concealed in two imported vehicles from Canada. Meanwhile, at the Onne Port in Rivers State, two containers filled with opioids were intercepted, containing 168,000 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1 billion and 4.5 million tramadol pills valued at N3.15 billion.
Additional Drug Seizures Nationwide
In Ekiti State, a physically challenged woman, Mustapha Boja, was arrested on November 17 with 286 grams of cannabis derivatives. In Oyo, officers seized 64kg of cannabis, while in Edo State, over 1.2 tons of the substance were recovered during raids. Arrests were also made in Kano and Bauchi States, involving individuals found with significant cannabis shipments.
Community Engagement and Commendations
The NDLEA continues its “War Against Drug Abuse” (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitization programs in schools, workplaces, and communities across the country. Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s officers for their operational successes and balanced approach to reducing drug supply and demand.
These coordinated efforts underscore the NDLEA’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria.
