Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, for attempting to traffic 4.8 kilogrammes of cocaine to Italy.
Tunde was arrested on September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, a search of his luggage led to the discovery of 16 parcels of cocaine hidden in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, alongside 195 wraps concealed in the railings of four travelling bags. Laboratory tests confirmed the substances as cocaine with a combined weight of 4.80kg.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly disclosed that he paid N16 million cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment hidden in the bags was meant for delivery to a business associate in Italy. He claimed the money came from compensation he received after sustaining an injury while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy where he lost the tips of two fingers.
*N5bn Loud, Codeine Shipments Foiled at Lagos, Onne Ports*
The arrest is part of a wider intelligence-led operation that led to major seizures at the nation’s seaports.
At Apapa Port, Lagos, operatives working with Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 124kg of Thai Loud concealed in two refrigerators and two cartons inside a container shipped from Bangkok, Thailand, valued at N372 million.
At Onne Port, Rivers State, the agency recovered another 22kg of Loud from a container, alongside 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg. The combined street value was estimated at N833.2 million.
Similarly, at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, operatives seized 1,297.5kg of Canadian Loud valued at over N3.8 billion on September 29. The drugs were discovered in a watch-listed container shipped from Montreal, Canada, concealed in two vehicles.
The combined seizures from the three ports is worth over N5 billion.
*20,000kg Skunk Destroyed In Osun Forest, Raids In Bauchi, Kogi, Edo, Plateau*
In Osun State, NDLEA destroyed 20,234kg of skunk discovered on an 8.0936-hectare cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area.
In Plateau State, a 41-year-old suspect, Agbo Dennis, was arrested in Jos North following the seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.
Other raids across Bauchi, Kogi, Edo and Lagos led to seizures of tramadol, methamphetamine, Colorado and other illicit substances.
*Fugitive Who Jumped Bail Six Years Ago Nabbed*
In another operation, operatives arrested a 47-year-old fugitive, Idris Mohammed Kurra, who allegedly jumped bail six years ago while standing trial before the Federal High Court in Jos over possession and trafficking of 198kg of skunk.
Kurra was arrested on September 29, having reportedly evaded arrest since December 2020 when he was granted bail.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended officers for the successes and said the Agency will continue to intensify its War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization campaigns nationwide.
