Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly concealing cocaine on his body and inside his footwear.
Arrest Details
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, 47, was apprehended on Thursday, 29 January 2026, during the inward clearance of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg.
Following actionable intelligence, Onyekwere underwent a full-body scan, which revealed illicit drugs, leading to a strip search.
During the search, authorities discovered:
- One large parcel of white powder wrapped around his right thigh.
- Two additional wraps concealed in the soles of his shoes.
In total, three wraps weighing 1.60 kilograms tested positive for cocaine.
Suspect’s Confession
During preliminary questioning, Onyekwere admitted to purchasing the drugs in Brazil to resell them in Nigeria to raise capital for his business and to fund the naming ceremony of his newborn child.
He revealed that he has lived in Brazil since 2008 and has been operating a toy business for about nine years.
Related NDLEA Seizures
In related operations:
- At Tincan Seaport, Lagos, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with Customs, intercepted 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 1,183 kilograms, hidden inside a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix car.
- In Niger State, officers seized 2,735kg of skunk cannabis and 1kg of Colorado synthetic cannabis, arresting three suspects: Andy Chidogu (49), Kenneth Ogene (45), and Sadiq Olanrewaju (27).
These operations reflect the NDLEA’s ongoing commitment to curbing drug trafficking in Nigeria.
