An Italy-bound businessman has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after 4.80 kilograms of cocaine were discovered concealed in the soles of shoes and the railings of travelling bags at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The 38-year-old suspect, identified as Philip Tunde, was arrested on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.
A search by NDLEA operatives uncovered 16 parcels of cocaine hidden in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, alongside 195 wraps concealed in the railings of four travelling bags. The substances, which tested positive for cocaine, weighed a combined 4.80 kilograms.
During interrogation, Tunde reportedly told investigators that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment hidden in the bags was intended for delivery to a partner in Italy. He said the money came from compensation he received after suffering an injury at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.
NDLEA intercepts N5bn worth of drugs at Lagos, Onne ports
The NDLEA also intercepted consignments of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and codeine-based cough syrup worth more than N5 billion at the Apapa, Tincan Island and Onne ports.
At the Apapa Port in Lagos, operatives acting on intelligence subjected two containers shipped from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination alongside Customs and other stakeholders. A search of one of the containers on September 3 led to the discovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124 kilograms and valued at N372 million, concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.
At the Onne Port in Rivers State, two containers placed on the agency’s watch list were subjected to a joint examination. Operatives recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22 kilograms from a travelling bag and three vehicles — a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra — among five vehicles shipped in one of the containers.
The second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440 kilograms. According to the NDLEA, the container originated from India and was routed through Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was deleted in an attempt to prevent it from being targeted. The Loud and codeine consignments recovered at Onne had a combined street value of N833.2 million.
At the Tincan Island Port, NDLEA operatives on September 29 conducted a joint examination of a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada. The operation led to the seizure of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5 kilograms, concealed in a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags.
The consignment was valued at more than N3.8 billion in street value.
20,234kg cannabis destroyed in Osun
The agency also destroyed 20,234 kilograms of skunk found on an 8.0936-hectare cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State.
The destruction was carried out on Wednesday, September 30, following operations by NDLEA personnel.
In Plateau State, operatives arrested 41-year-old Agbo Dennis on September 29 at the West of Mines area of Jos North after recovering 33 bags of skunk weighing 385 kilograms.
NDLEA recovers tramadol, methamphetamine in Lagos
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, on September 28 and recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol.
The agency also arrested 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo on September 30 at Ladipo Spare Parts Market in a follow-up operation after recovering 61 grams of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24 grams of methamphetamine concealed inside an energy drink bottle being transported as a waybill package.
The drugs had reportedly been sent through a commercial bus driver travelling along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Methamphetamine recovered in Kogi, Abuja
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Highway intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commuter bus on September 30 and discovered a waybill containing two sachets of methamphetamine weighing one kilogram.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, at Utako in Abuja.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers raided the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi at Uyere community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area on October 2 and recovered 32.2 kilograms of cannabis sativa.
On the same day, 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael was arrested at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59 grams of Loud, 12 grams of Colorado, 19 grams of tramadol, 16 grams of methamphetamine, four grams of Swinol and four grams of Molly.
Fugitive arrested six years after jumping bail
The NDLEA also announced the arrest of 47-year-old Idris Mohammed Kurra, six years after he allegedly jumped bail while facing trial at the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State.
Kurra was arrested on September 29 in connection with a case involving the possession and dealing in 198 kilograms of skunk. He had reportedly been granted bail in December 2020 but remained at large until his arrest.
NDLEA continues WADA sensitisation
Beyond seizures and arrests, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The activities included enlightenment lectures at St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oji, Enugu; Olu-Odo Primary School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos; Government Junior Secondary School, Tsamiya, Kano; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti; and Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau and Osun Commands for what he described as professional and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
