{"id":128864,"date":"2026-08-09T21:11:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T20:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=128864"},"modified":"2026-08-09T21:11:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T20:11:46","slug":"italy-based-businessman-excretes-98-cocaine-wraps-at-enugu-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/italy-based-businessman-excretes-98-cocaine-wraps-at-enugu-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy-Based Businessman Excretes 98 Cocaine Wraps at Enugu Airport"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/div>\n
\n
\n

A 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine for onward transportation to Europe.<\/p>\n

Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the departure hall of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.<\/p>\n

He was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.<\/p>\n

According to the NDLEA, investigations revealed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the cocaine at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.<\/p>\n

The suspect reportedly told investigators that he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for \u20ac3,500, which he said he needed to raise funds to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.<\/p>\n

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Sunday, adding that it was part of a series of operations that resulted in the interception of cocaine shipments and large consignments of cannabis across several parts of the country.<\/p>\n

Babafemi said attempts by drug trafficking syndicates to move cocaine through international courier channels were also foiled in Lagos.<\/p>\n

According to him, \u201c1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers going to Saudi Arabia\u201d was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier company in Lagos.<\/p>\n

He added that a separate attempt to export \u201c500 grams of the same Class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy\u201d was also foiled at another logistics company.<\/p>\n

In another operation in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives intercepted \u201c2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States\u201d at a shipping company.<\/p>\n

In Ondo State, officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck conveying 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.<\/p>\n

Two suspects, 40-year-old Buba Jamilu and 30-year-old Sanusi Ibrahim, were arrested in connection with the consignment.<\/p>\n

Babafemi said the Ondo State Command also recovered 147kg of skunk during a raid on Ita Ogbolu Forest.<\/p>\n

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village in Orire Local Government Area, recovering 731.03kg of cannabis.<\/p>\n

A 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while her alleged accomplice, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.<\/p>\n

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg during an operation at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area.<\/p>\n

In Abia State, a suspected drug joint operator, 31-year-old Chibuike Charles, was arrested during a raid on his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area. Officers recovered 7kg of skunk from the operation.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a suspected notorious drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested in Lagos on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt.<\/p>\n

Sikuru was apprehended at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry, where 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.<\/p>\n

At the Tin Can Island Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA officers, working alongside the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg.<\/p>\n

The illicit consignment was uncovered during a joint examination of a 40-foot container. A suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure.<\/p>\n

Babafemi said the series of seizures reflected the agency\u2019s continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating across the country.<\/p>\n

He added that NDLEA commands and formations were sustaining their preventive campaigns through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.<\/p>\n

According to him, \u201cCommands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week.\u201d<\/p>\n

The campaign included enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.<\/p>\n

The Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.<\/p>\n

Commending the officers and men of the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tin Can Commands for their successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them and their colleagues nationwide to sustain the agency\u2019s ongoing drug control efforts.<\/p>\n

Marwa, according to Babafemi, \u201cenjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.\u201d<\/p>\n

The latest operations form part of the NDLEA\u2019s continued crackdown on the trafficking of cocaine and other illicit drugs through airports, courier companies, ports, highways and drug distribution networks across the country.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n