NDLEA arrests businessman for cocaine smuggling, seizes large drug hauls nationwide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Paul Okwuy Mbadugha, a 54-year-old businessman, at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 12, 2024, after he ingested 1.710 kilograms of cocaine in 88 wraps.

The drugs were recovered after four days of excretion observation. Mbadugha claimed he was paid $2,000 to deliver the drugs to Vietnam.

In separate operations, NDLEA intercepted 800 grams of synthetic cannabis concealed in noodles bound for Congo at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport and arrested the sender, Nnamani Sunday Sunny.

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Another arrest involved Desalu Taophic Temitope, who was caught with 65.80 kilograms of cannabis imported from Canada.

Additionally, NDLEA seized 892,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at over ₦6 billion in Port Harcourt, and destroyed 21,800 kilograms of cannabis sativa on 20 hectares of farmland in Ekiti State.

Numerous other drug seizures and arrests were made across the country, including in Kano, Ogun, Enugu, and Kogi states.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s efforts in these operations and the ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign