Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for allegedly smuggling shirts and towels laced with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine into Nigeria from Brazil.
The Punch reported that the suspect, aged 41, was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, shortly after arriving from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on June 11.
In a statement on Sunday, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that a detailed inspection of the suspect’s luggage uncovered 14 towels and shirts which had been soaked in liquid cocaine, dried, and carefully ironed in an attempt to evade detection.
Babafemi said, “A 41-year-old São Paulo, Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for importing shirts and towels impregnated with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria.
“Abugu was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Thursday, June 11, 2026. A thorough search of his luggage led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, all soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well ironed.”
He further stated that the suspect claimed he had spent over 14 years in Brazil, where he operates an African restaurant, and said his return to Nigeria was to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.
“The suspect claims he has lived for over 14 years in Brazil, where he runs an African restaurant. He added that he was in Nigeria to see his wife and buy foodstuff in bulk for his restaurant,” the statement read.
In a separate operation, the anti-narcotics agency also apprehended a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, alongside a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disabilities, over alleged drug trafficking offences in Abia and Rivers States.
Babafemi disclosed that Chidimma was caught with 1.8 kilograms of skunk by members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, before being handed over to NDLEA operatives on June 10.
He added that Usman was arrested in the Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with various illicit substances including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol and diazepam.
Across the country, the agency also recorded large-scale seizures, including 304 kilograms of skunk intercepted in Kwara State, 1,121.5 kilograms of cannabis recovered from a warehouse in Taraba State, and 1,102 kilograms of “Ghana Loud” seized near Alaba International Market in Lagos.
Commending the operatives, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised officers from the MMIA, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos and FCT commands for the arrests and seizures.
He noted that the latest breakthroughs align with the agency’s ongoing drug demand reduction and sensitisation efforts, urging personnel to intensify their operations and surpass previous achievements.
