Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 41-year-old businessman based in São Paulo, Brazil, identified as Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for allegedly importing shirts and towels soaked in liquid cocaine into Nigeria.
Abugu was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, after arriving from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Thursday, June 11, 2026. A detailed search of his luggage led to the discovery of 14 towels and shirts impregnated with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine. The items had been dried and carefully ironed to conceal the illicit substance.
According to the suspect, he has lived in Brazil for more than 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant. He told investigators that he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.
In a related development, the NDLEA has taken into custody two persons living with disabilities over their alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities in Abia and Rivers states.
One of the suspects, 60-year-old Chidimma Sunday, was arrested 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, on Wednesday, June 10, before being handed over to the NDLEA.
Similarly, 28-year-old Abubakar Usman was arrested during an NDLEA operation in the Rumuokoro area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, June 9. Officers reportedly recovered 400 grams of skunk, five grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, five grams of swinol, and 18 grams of diazepam from him.
