Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Saturday, arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, with luggage containing 11 kilograms of cocaine hidden in ground dry pepper, which was packaged in foil papers and balloons.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, stated that the suspect was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when he was about to take a flight to the United Kingdom for vacation.
Mr Babafemi said, “A 74-year-old grandpa, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja after a large consignment of cocaine was discovered in foil papers and balloons concealed in his luggage.
“The septuagenarian who claimed he was travelling to London, United Kingdom for vacation, was arrested by NDLEA officers at the departure hall of the Abuja airport while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow London on Saturday 14th March 2026.
“During a search of his luggage, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms were discovered concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons.”
NDLEA operatives, in another operation on Monday, nabbed one Maryam Olalowo, alongside her three children, at Ikad Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos State, while selling cocaine, Canadian Loud, and cannabis allegedly belonging to her ex-convict husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was also later arrested.
Mr Babafemi said, “In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Monday 9th March arrested a woman, Mrs. Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites, on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while attempting to sell 89grams of cocaine and 20grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.
“She was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She confessed the illicit drugs belong to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later taken into custody same day while his wife was immediately set free.
“Ibrahim confirmed ownership of the illicit drugs in his statement while further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted, and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.”
Also in Lagos, NDLEA operatives nabbed two suspects on Monday at Ebute Ero with thousands of pills of Tramadol already loaded in a truck, ready to be transported to the Benin Republic. On Wednesday, the owner of the illicit consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian, was apprehended at Idumota Market, where thousands of tablets of Tramadol ready to be delivered to another location were also discovered.
Mr Babafemi said, “In another interdiction operation, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects: Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim at Ebetu Ero, Lagos Island where they recovered 68,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and 225mg after they had loaded the exhibits into their truck and preparing to transport them to Benin Republic on Monday 9th March.
“A follow-up operation was conducted on Wednesday 11th March at Idumota market, Lagos Island, where the actual owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian, was arrested. A search of his shop led to the discovery of a parcel already prepared for waybill delivery, containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg. Another raid at Idumota market on Friday 13th March led to the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin and the recovery of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from his shop.”
The NDLEA also made other arrests, including Dan Azumi in Kano, Isah Wako in Gwagwalada, Abuja, and Chinedo Odalonu in Edo, confiscating skunk and codeine-based syrup, as well as intercepting shipments containing opioids at the Apapa seaport.
He said, “While a 42-year-old Magaji Dan Azumi was arrested at Bebeji area of Kano with 386kg skunk on Tuesday 10th March, NDLEA officers in Abuja recovered 282.2kg skunk from a suspect, Isah Wako, 42, in Gwagwalada area of the FCT on Friday 13th March.
“In Edo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Egwa forest reserve in Aduan village, Orhionmwon LGA where a suspect Chinedo Odalonu,33, was apprehended and a total of 4,218.96kg skunk destroyed on two farms with 16.5kg of same substance recovered.
“No fewer than 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in two containers at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on Saturday 14th March during a joint examination of the shipments by NDLEA officers, men of Customs and other security agencies. The containers had earlier been watch-listed by NDLEA following credible intelligence on concealment of opioids in them.”
