Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recently made multiple significant drug trafficking arrests at various Nigerian international airports, highlighting the persistent challenge of illicit drug smuggling.
On Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), NDLEA agents apprehended 44-year-old businessman Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian.
Ezemokwe was attempting to board Qatar Airways flight QR1434 destined for Tehran Khomeini Airport in Iran via Doha. Following a body scan that revealed the ingestion of illegal substances, he was placed under medical observation.
During this period, he expelled 53 wraps of cocaine, totaling 1.172 kilograms. The suspect admitted that he had been involved in drug trafficking for approximately two years, operating between the West African sub-region and Iran.
This arrest comes just weeks after another similar incident at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano, where NDLEA officials intercepted Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, a 60-year-old businessman, carrying 65 pellets of cocaine concealed inside his stomach while en route to Iran.
In a related development, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, intercepted Edobor Ambrose Ali, an Italy-bound passenger on an Air France flight.
Acting in close collaboration with the aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the NDLEA conducted baggage scanning at the airport tarmac. This operation uncovered hidden drug consignments concealed within winter jackets inside the suspect’s luggage.
A subsequent thorough search led to the seizure of a staggering 14,410 tramadol pills, comprising both 225mg and 200mg dosages. Following his arrest, the suspect revealed that he resides in Italy and had been hired to undertake an all-expense-paid trip to Nigeria. His mission was to courier the illicit drugs back to Milan, Italy, in exchange for a fee of 2,000 Euros.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi provided further details on these cases, underscoring the ongoing efforts of the agency to combat drug trafficking through vigilant surveillance and cooperation with aviation authorities.
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