Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, for allegedly attempting to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of cartons containing food items destined for the United Kingdom.

Chinedu, a clothing trader at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026, after NDLEA officers intercepted the drug consignment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, a day earlier.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

Investigation Leads to Alleged Syndicate Kingpin

According to the NDLEA, three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—were initially arrested for processing the shipment.

Their arrest led investigators to Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for export.

Babafemi said Okakpu’s arrest eventually helped investigators identify Chinedu as the alleged leader of the drug trafficking syndicate.

“Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK,” the statement said.

Entrepreneur Arrested Over Synthetic Cannabis

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo after intercepting a consignment of 2.80kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

The agency said she was arrested at her Surulere residence on Tuesday, July 21, following the seizure of the drug shipment, which had arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on July 20.

Airport Operations Yield Billions of Naira in Drug Seizures

The agency also announced the recovery of 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg with an estimated street value of more than ₦2.2 billion.

According to Babafemi, the shipment arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight and was intercepted during a joint cargo examination at the Lagos airport on Friday, July 24, following intelligence received by the agency.

The seizure came shortly after NDLEA officers intercepted another consignment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap that was being prepared for shipment to the United Kingdom through a Lagos courier company on July 22.

Canadian Loud Worth ₦7.1bn Seized at Apapa Port

Photo Credit: NDLEA Edo

At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5kg concealed inside three vehicles loaded in a shipping container.

The agency estimated the street value of the drugs at more than ₦7.1 billion.

The discovery was made during a joint examination of the container on Monday, July 20.

Ammunition Recovered in Katsina

Photo Credit: NDLEA Edo

In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Mustapha Sani during a patrol operation at Baure in Safana Local Government Area after allegedly finding 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition in his possession.

The recovered ammunition consisted of 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.

In a separate operation, another 30-year-old suspect, Abubakar Amadu, was arrested during a stop-and-search exercise at Jere along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of red oil.

The NDLEA said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

Warehouse Raid in Edo Leads to Cannabis Seizures

Photo Credit: NDLEA Edo

Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi Community, Esan South East Local Government Area, recovering 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds.

The agency also arrested 45-year-old Ojore Onweze with 60kg of skunk and 30-year-old George Agwumede, who was found with 13kg of the same substance.