A 25-year-old businessman who recently got married has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu over an alleged attempt to traffic cocaine to Portugal.
The suspect, identified as Lovely Chukwulobelu, was intercepted at the airport’s departure area on Thursday, September 25, 2026, while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa.
According to the NDLEA, officers discovered that the suspect had allegedly ingested cocaine and subsequently placed him under observation.
The agency said he later expelled 72 wraps of cocaine that had allegedly been concealed inside his body.
Suspect allegedly returned to Nigeria for wedding
The NDLEA said Chukwulobelu told investigators that he previously operated a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos.
He reportedly relocated to Portugal in May 2023 and had been living there before returning to Nigeria recently.
According to the agency, the suspect got married on September 13, 2026, shortly before his arrest at the Enugu airport.
The NDLEA further said he claimed he became involved in the alleged drug trafficking in an effort to meet expenses associated with his wedding.
These claims were attributed to the suspect by the agency and have not been independently established in court.
Arrest made before flight to Portugal
The arrest occurred as the suspect was preparing to leave Nigeria.
The NDLEA said its operatives intercepted him before he could board the Ethiopian Airlines flight. After the alleged cocaine was detected, he was placed under excretion observation.
The agency subsequently recovered the 72 wraps from him.
The case adds to a series of drug-trafficking investigations being conducted by the NDLEA at Nigerian airports and other points of entry and exit.
Major opioid seizure recorded in Lagos
The NDLEA also reported a separate major operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos during the same period.
According to the agency, officers recovered 2.55 million pills of pharmaceutical opioids during an examination of three monitored consignments at the airport’s import shed.
The drugs included Tramaking 225mg, Tramaking 250mg and Royal Tapentadol 250mg.
The combined weight of the consignments was reported at 1,640.55 kilogrammes. The NDLEA said the shipments originated from India and Bangladesh and entered Nigeria through international airlines including Qatar Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.
The agency described the seizure as one of its largest opioid interceptions of the year.
Other drug arrests across Nigeria
The NDLEA also announced several other arrests and seizures during operations in different parts of the country.
In Bauchi State, officers reportedly arrested two men after recovering 262.5kg of cannabis, concealed in a compartment of a truck along the Maiduguri bypass.
In Edo State, NDLEA personnel, supported by soldiers, destroyed two cannabis farms in Eko Camp, Ilushi. The agency estimated their combined potential yield at more than 1,360kg.
Operations were also carried out in Lagos, Oyo State and at the Seme border in Lagos State.
At Seme, the agency said five suspects were arrested and 420 cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, were recovered.
NDLEA officials also reported the arrest of two Togolese nationals in Oyo State in connection with an alleged cross-border cannabis trafficking operation.
NDLEA intensifies anti-drug campaign
Beyond arrests and seizures, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaign during the week.
According to the NDLEA, sensitisation programmes were conducted in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities in several states.
The agency’s chairman and chief executive officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel involved in the recent operations.
He urged officers across the country to maintain their efforts against drug trafficking and abuse.
Investigation continues
The arrest of the Enugu-bound passenger comes amid continued efforts by Nigerian authorities to prevent illicit drugs from being transported through airports and international borders.
For Chukwulobelu, the allegations will now be subject to the relevant investigative and legal processes.
While the NDLEA has stated that the suspect allegedly ingested and later expelled 72 cocaine wraps, the allegations remain allegations unless established through the appropriate legal process.
The case also highlights the continued focus of Nigerian anti-narcotics authorities on passengers suspected of using airports to move illegal drugs to international destinations.
