Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 47-year-old Nigeria businessman based in Brazil, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle 1.60 kilograms of cocaine into the country concealed in his private parts and the soles of his footwear.

The arrest occurred on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers from a South African Airways flight originating in Brazil via Johannesburg.

The operation was based on processed intelligence. Following a full body scan that indicated concealment, a strip search revealed a large parcel of white powdery substance later confirmed as cocaine wrapped around the suspect’s right thigh.

Two additional wraps of the same substance were discovered hidden in the soles of his flat shoes.

In a preliminary interview, Onyekwere, who resides in Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, and has lived in Brazil since 2008, stated he purchased the drugs in Brazil intending to resell them in Nigeria to raise capital for his toy business and to fund the naming ceremony for his newborn child.

The seizure forms part of a broader week of intense anti-drug operations by the NDLEA across several states, resulting in the recovery of over 9,939 kilograms of various cannabis strains including Loud, Colorado (Colos), and Skunk along with other illicit substances.

At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, officers on Wednesday, January 28, discovered 1,183 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis hidden inside two vehicles (a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix) within a container imported from Montreal, Canada.

In Niger State, operatives intercepted a truck along the Dei-Dei Abuja expressway on Tuesday, January 26, arresting Andy Chidogu (49), Kenneth Ogene (45), and Sadiq Olanrewaju (27). The vehicle contained 176 bags of skunk (2,735kg) and 1kg of Colorado concealed among a legitimate flour load originating from Lagos and rerouted via Edo State for a N1.7 million transport fee.

In Edo State, NDLEA teams arrested Shaibu Yusuf on January 27 while he sought transport for 66 bags of skunk (792kg) hidden in charcoal bags bound for Katsina. On January 28, a joint raid with Nigerian Army personnel at Ebora camp, Ilushi, in Esan South East LGA destroyed 4,063.675kg of skunk on a 1.6-hectare farm, recovering 328kg of processed cannabis and seeds.

Four suspects Jeremiah Nwodeh (46), Chukwudi Pius (33), Pius Ogaba (46), and Onora Kwene (35) were arrested.

In Anambra, a cement truck intercepted at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, on January 28 concealed 345.2kg of skunk belonging to Abum Okeke (42), one of three occupants arrested.

Additional seizures included 473kg of skunk from Tunde Ogundele (39) and Soji Elegbelye (46) in Eleyewo community, Akure North, Ondo State, on January 26. In Kano, Abdullahi Usman (45) was nabbed with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection on the same day, while Musa Shuaibu (42) yielded 4,390 tramadol pills on January 27.

Other arrests featured Oragwan Ekene with 15.5kg skunk in Lagos on January 30, and Omang Peter Edward with 3.5kg skunk hidden in a sound system and cereal packets at Seme border from Benin Republic on January 27.

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts, delivering lectures at schools across Yobe, Abia, Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, Oyo, and other states.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers from the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, and Kano commands for their professionalism and urged sustained balanced efforts in supply and demand reduction.

The statement was issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, February 1, 2026.