Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Nigeria-bound passenger arriving from Brazil after intercepting cocaine concealed on his body and in his footwear at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The suspect, identified as Uche Franklin Onyekwere, a 47-year-old Nigerian businessman based in Brazil, was taken into custody on Thursday, January 29, 2026, during the inward clearance of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg.
According to the NDLEA, the arrest followed credible, processed intelligence that flagged the suspect for possible drug trafficking. On arrival at the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers subjected him to close monitoring before he was taken for further screening.
Confirming the development, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said officers discovered concealed narcotics after a body scan raised strong suspicion.
Babafemi explained that the scan indicated the presence of foreign substances on the suspect, prompting a more thorough search. During the exercise, officers recovered a large wrap of a white powdery substance secured around the suspect’s thigh. Additional checks led to the discovery of two more wraps hidden inside the soles of a pair of flat shoes he was wearing at the time of arrival.
Laboratory analysis later confirmed the substance to be cocaine. In total, three large wraps of the illicit drug, weighing 1.60 kilograms, were recovered.
“The suspect attempted to evade detection by concealing the drugs on his body and in his footwear, but our officers acted professionally based on intelligence and standard operating procedures,” Babafemi said.
During preliminary interrogation, Onyekwere reportedly admitted to purchasing the cocaine in Brazil with the intention of selling it in Nigeria. He told investigators that he needed the money to expand his business and also to cover expenses related to the naming ceremony of his newborn child.
The suspect disclosed that he resides in Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, and has been living in Brazil since 2008. He also claimed to have been operating a toy business for about nine years.
NDLEA officials said investigations are ongoing to identify possible collaborators within and outside Nigeria, while the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of preliminary investigations.
The agency reiterated its commitment to tightening surveillance at Nigeria’s airports and other entry points, warning drug traffickers that evolving intelligence-led operations will continue to frustrate attempts to smuggle illicit substances into the country.
In recent months, the NDLEA has recorded several high-profile seizures involving passengers arriving from South America, a region long identified as a major source of cocaine destined for African and European markets. The agency has maintained that sustained enforcement, international cooperation, and public awareness remain key to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Source: Africa Publicity
