A 25-year-old businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, has been arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly discovered that he had ingested 72 wraps of cocaine.
The suspect was reportedly intercepted as he prepared to leave Nigeria for Portugal, with the alleged drug consignment concealed inside his body.
According to the NDLEA, Chukwulobelu was stopped at the departure hall of the Enugu airport on Thursday, September 25, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Portugal through Addis Ababa.
The agency said its officers became suspicious during their interaction with the traveller and subsequently subjected him to further checks.
When the officers suspected that he might have swallowed narcotics, the suspect was placed under excretion observation, a procedure used to monitor individuals believed to have internally concealed illicit substances.
The NDLEA said the process eventually resulted in the recovery of 72 wraps of cocaine allegedly ingested by Chukwulobelu.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy.
Babafemi said the suspect was apprehended while at the airport’s departure area, adding that he was allegedly preparing to travel out of Nigeria with the illicit substance.
The case has attracted attention because the suspect was reportedly a newly married man at the time of his arrest.
According to the agency, Chukwulobelu still had his wedding ring on his finger when NDLEA officers took him into custody.
The suspect reportedly got married on September 13, 2026, less than two weeks before his arrest at the airport.
During questioning, Chukwulobelu allegedly provided details about his background and his activities before his arrest.
The NDLEA said he told investigators that he had previously operated a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos.
He reportedly relocated to Portugal in May 2023 and had been living there before making a recent trip back to Nigeria.
It was during his return to Nigeria, according to the agency, that he got married.
The suspect allegedly told investigators that expenses connected to his wedding contributed to his decision to become involved in the illegal drug business.
He reportedly explained that he turned to the illicit trade as a means of meeting financial obligations associated with the wedding.
The NDLEA did not disclose the alleged financial arrangement surrounding the cocaine or identify the person or persons expected to receive the substance in Portugal.
However, the agency said the recovery of the 72 wraps followed the interception of the suspect before he could board his flight.
The incident underscores the continued use of international airports as points of focus in the NDLEA’s efforts to prevent the movement of illicit drugs across Nigeria’s borders.
Airport departure areas are particularly important to anti-narcotics officers because suspected couriers attempting to transport controlled substances outside the country can be intercepted before boarding their flights.
In Chukwulobelu’s case, the agency said its officers’ suspicion led to additional measures being taken after he was stopped at the airport.
Rather than allowing him to continue his journey, the officers reportedly placed him under observation after suspecting that he had concealed cocaine internally.
The 72 wraps were subsequently recovered after he allegedly expelled them.
The NDLEA described cocaine as a Class A illicit drug, highlighting the seriousness with which authorities treat the possession and trafficking of the substance.
The agency has repeatedly warned individuals against participating in drug trafficking, particularly attempts to transport narcotics through airports and international borders.
Drug couriers can employ different methods to conceal illicit substances, including hiding them in luggage, clothing or other personal belongings.
In some cases, traffickers allegedly swallow wrapped packages or conceal them internally in an attempt to evade security checks.
Such methods carry significant risks, as a ruptured package inside the body could expose a person to potentially life-threatening consequences.
Beyond the health risks, suspected drug couriers may also face criminal investigation and prosecution if authorities establish evidence of involvement in trafficking.
The NDLEA’s account indicates that Chukwulobelu’s alleged method of concealment did not prevent authorities from stopping him before his departure.
Following the recovery, the suspect remained in the custody of the agency while investigations continued into the alleged drug trafficking attempt.
Investigators are expected to establish how the cocaine was obtained, whether the suspect was acting alone and whether other individuals were involved in arranging the alleged shipment to Portugal.
The investigation could also seek to determine the intended destination of the drugs and whether Chukwulobelu was allegedly working on behalf of a wider drug trafficking network.
For now, the allegations against the 25-year-old remain subject to the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
The NDLEA is expected to handle the case under Nigeria’s laws governing controlled substances, drug trafficking and the unlawful possession or transportation of narcotics.
The arrest also comes at a particularly striking point in the suspect’s personal life, coming just days after his reported wedding.
According to the agency, the young businessman had returned to Nigeria from Portugal and celebrated his marriage on September 13 before allegedly attempting to travel back.
His reported explanation that wedding-related expenses influenced his alleged involvement in the drug trade is also expected to form part of the information considered by investigators as they examine the circumstances surrounding the case.
The NDLEA has continued to urge members of the public to stay away from illicit drug activities and to provide relevant information to authorities when they become aware of drug trafficking operations.
As investigations continue, the agency will determine the next steps in the case based on the evidence gathered from the suspect, the recovered cocaine and other findings arising from the investigation.