NDLEA Arrests Lagos Businessman Over 3.3kg Cocaine Shipment Bound for UK
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, over an alleged attempt to export 3.30kg of cocaine concealed inside the walls of cartons used to package food items destined for the United Kingdom.
Chinedu, a clothing trader at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026, after NDLEA operatives intercepted the consignment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a day earlier.
According to the agency, investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents who handled the shipment—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim. Their investigation subsequently led operatives to Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.
The NDLEA said Okakpu’s arrest provided investigators with information that led to the identification of Chinedu, whom the agency described as the alleged kingpin behind the syndicate. He was subsequently arrested while allegedly attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the United Kingdom. (NDLEA)
In another Lagos operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo at her residence in Surulere on Tuesday, July 21, following the seizure of 2.80kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis. The consignment reportedly arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.
At the Lagos airport, the agency also intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg valued at over ₦2.2 billion in street value. The shipment, which arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight, was intercepted during a joint examination of the cargo on Friday, July 24, following intelligence received and processed by the agency.
The development came shortly after NDLEA operatives intercepted another consignment of tramadol concealed in containers of black soap and allegedly destined for the United Kingdom.
At the Apapa Seaport, operatives uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5kg and valued at more than ₦7.1 billion. The drugs were allegedly concealed inside three vehicles packed in a shipping container.
The agency also reported arrests linked to ammunition trafficking in Katsina State. Mustapha Sani, 30, was arrested during a patrol operation at Baure, Safana Local Government Area, with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, including 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.
Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation at Jere along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. He was allegedly found with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of red oil. Both suspects have reportedly been handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigation.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives also raided a warehouse in Ilushi community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, where they recovered 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds.
The agency further arrested Ojore Onweze, 45, with 60kg of skunk, while George Agwumede, 30, was arrested with 13kg of the same substance.
The series of operations form part of the NDLEA’s ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks and the movement of illicit substances through Nigeria’s airports, seaports, roads and communities.
