30.09 Kilograms of Heroin Concealed in Coffee Packs, Worth Over ₦3 Billion in Street Value
In a major drug bust, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian woman, Ingrid Benevides, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja with 30.09 kilograms of heroin, making it the largest heroin seizure at the airport to date. The seized drugs, concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs, are valued at over ₦3 billion on the street.
The arrest took place on Friday, January 23, 2026, when Benevides, a private security officer from Brazil, arrived on a Qatar Airways flight. She was placed under intelligence-led surveillance by NDLEA officers and was intercepted after disembarking the flight.
Upon inspecting her luggage, officials found 21 sealed coffee packs that contained white substances later identified as heroin. The drugs weighed a total of 30.09 kilograms, which NDLEA describes as the largest single heroin seizure at Abuja Airport. During her preliminary interview, Benevides claimed that she had brought the drugs under the guise of visiting Nigeria for a holiday.
Key Details:
- Suspect: Ingrid Benevides, 30, Brazilian
- Drugs Seized: 30.09 kilograms of heroin concealed in coffee packs
- Street Value: Over ₦3 billion
- Location: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja
This breakthrough follows a string of successful interdictions by the NDLEA. The agency also reported the interception of two individuals, Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on January 20, 2026. The duo was found carrying a total of 3,990 pills of tapentadol and tramadol concealed within food items in their luggage. They were en route to Istanbul, Turkey.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at Jakande Beach in Lekki, Lagos, seized 44 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud cannabis weighing 1,848 kilograms. The cannabis shipment had just arrived from Ghana when NDLEA officers intercepted the wooden boat carrying the drugs on the early hours of January 22, 2026.
Additionally, in Kaduna, two suspects, Aminu Baba (20) and Abdulrasheed Abubakar (28), were arrested following the interception of 140 packets of explosives along the Kaduna–Zaria highway. The explosives were discovered in a commercial bus, and subsequent operations led to the suspects’ arrest in Kano and Kaduna.
The NDLEA continues to intensify efforts to curb drug trafficking in Nigeria, employing intelligence and coordinated operations to disrupt criminal networks and ensure that traffickers face justice.
In summary:
- Largest heroin seizure at Abuja Airport: 30.09 kg, valued over ₦3 billion
- Other Interceptions:
- 3,990 pills of tramadol and tapentadol in Lagos
- 1,848 kg of cannabis from Ghana at Lekki
- Explosives seized in Kaduna
The NDLEA’s vigilant operations demonstrate a continued commitment to fighting drug trafficking and organized crime within Nigeria.
