Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil returnee, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, who was caught with cocaine in his private part and soles of his footwear.
Onyekwere (47), a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, was arrested at the Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
In another development, the anti-narcotic agency seized over 9,939kg Loud, Colos, Skunk seized in raids across Lagos, Niger, Edo, Anambra, Ondo states and also recovered 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection in Kano State.
The arrest, seizure and recovery were contained in a press release, on Sunday, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
As stated in the release, Onyekwere was arrested on Thursday, 29 January 2026 during the inward clearance of passengers aboard a South African Airways flight arriving from Brazil, via Johannesburg following processed intelligence.
When the 47-year-old Brazil-based was taken for full body scan, the result confirmed illicit drug concealment, it was further stated.
“As a result, he was subjected to a strip search, during which a big parcel of white powdery substance, which later tested positive for cocaine, was discovered wrapped around his right thigh.
“A further search revealed two additional wraps of the same substance concealed in the sole of a pair of flat shoes worn by the suspect.
“In all, three large wraps of cocaine, with a gross weight of 1.60 kilograms, were recovered from the body of Onyekwere and his footwear.
“During a preliminary interview, the suspect revealed Onyekwere purchased the illicit drug consignment in Brazil with the intention to resell the cocaine in Nigeria in order to raise capital to boost his business and also finance the naming ceremony of his newly-born child.
“The suspect who lives in Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, claimed that he has been living in Brazil since 2008, while he has been operating a toy business for about nine years,” it was added
At the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, a total of 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 1,183 kilograms imported from Montreal, Canada in a container.
The container was discovered last Wednesday during a joint examination of the shipment by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies.
The illicit consignments were said to have been hidden inside two vehicles: a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix car.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of last Tuesday, intercepted a long truck marked T 31589 LA, along Dei-Dei Abuja Expressway.
The trio of Andy Chidogu (49); Kenneth Ogene (45); and Sadiq Olanrewaju (27) were arrested for conveying 176 bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 2,735 kilograms and 1 kilogram of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, concealed in the truck.
Investigations revealed that Kenneth Ogene who drives the truck left Lagos on 23rd January loaded with 800 bags of flour to Ekpoma, Edo State and arrived the following day, 24 January.
When he got to Ekpoma, Horne reportedly then negotiated to transport the 176 bags of skunk and 1kg Colos for ₦1.7million.
In another interdiction operation, NDLEA operatives in Edo State, on Tuesday, 27 January, arrested Shaibu Yusuf along Auchi-Abuja Expressway, while looking for a vehicle to convey 66 bags of skunk concealed in bags of charcoal, weighing 792kg, to Katsina.
Also in Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army, last Wednesday, raided a cannabis farm at Ebora Camp, Ilushi in Esan South East LGA.
During the raid, 4,063.675kg skunk was destroyed on over 1.6 hectares of farmland, while 328kg processed cannabis and its seeds were recovered.
Suspects arrested during the raid at the camp include Jeremiah Nwodeh (46); Chukwudi Pius (33); Pius Ogaba, (46); and Onora Kwene (35).
“In Anambra State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 28 January, intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka Onitsha, heading to Nkpor.
“A search of the trailer revealed that bags of cement were used to conceal 345.2kg skunk owned by Abum Okeke, 42, who was one of the three occupants of the truck at the time of arrest,” it was stated.
At least, two suspects: Tunde Ogundele (39) and Soji Elegbelye (46), were on Monday, 26 January, arrested at Eleyewo Community in Akure North area of Ondo State.
The arrest of the two suspects was said to be in connection with the seizure of 473kg skunk.
NDLEA operatives in Kano State, on the same day, nabbed Abdullahi Usman, 45, at Murtala Mohammed Way, with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection recovered from him.
“Not less than 4,390 pills of tramadol were seized from another suspect, Musa Shuaibu (42), when he was arrested in Gaya area of Kano, last Tuesday.
Oragwan Ekene was arrested, last Friday at Okeyson Park, Alaba, Lagos, with an illicit consignment of 15.5kg skunk, heading to Onitsha, Anambra State
Omang Peter Edward was caught with 3.5kg of the same psychoactive substance concealed a sound system, along with two packets of cereal found in his luggage at the arrival tarmac of Seme Border, Badagry, last Tuesday.
The suspect was said to be coming from Cotonou, Benin Republic into Lagos.
NDLEA officers across all Commands and formations of the agency nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities in the past week.
These include: Enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Junior Secondary School, Jaji Maji, Yobe; Boys Technical College, Aba, Abia; Government Technical and Vocational College, Obollo Orie, Enugu;
St. John’s R.C.M Primary School, Odomola Eredo, Epe, Lagos;
Yandaki Primary School, Kaita, Katsina and Seed of Life College, Ibadan, Oyo State, among others.
Meanwhile, Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, and Kano Commands for the arrests, seizures and their professionalism.
He enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue the current balanced approach to their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
