NDLEA Nabs Brazil-based Businessman With Cocaine 'Starched' In Shirts, Towels

By RhemDy News 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 41-year-old Sao Paulo Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for alleged importation of  shirts and towels with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria.

Abugu was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight on Thursday June 12. 2026. 

Spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who revealed this via a statement on Sunday said a thorough search of the suspect's luggage led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, all soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well ironed.

In his statement, the suspect claimed that he has lived for over 14 years in Brazil where he runs an African restaurant. 

Abugu added that he was in Nigeria to see his wife and buy foodstuff in bulk for his restaurant.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old woman Chidimma Sunday and a 28-year-old man Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disability have been taken into NDLEA custody in Abia and Rivers States respectively following their alleged involvement in illicit drug trade. 

Chidimma was nabbed with 1.8kg skunk by Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North LGA Abia State and handed over to NDLEA on Wednesday June 10.

For his part, Abubakar was arrested at Rumuokoro Port Harcourt Rivers State with 400 grams of skunk, 5 grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, 5 grams of swinol and 18 grams of diazepam during a raid by NDLEA officers on Tuesday June 9.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives on Monday June 8 arrested one Onya Jude, 36, in possession of five gas cylinders used to conceal 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis at Ogwashi uku, Aniocha South area of the state. 

This was followed by the arrest of two notorious dealers: 40-year-old Jamilu Idris (a.k.a Jama) and 33-year-old Aminu Abdullahi (a.k.a Momo) at Kasuwan Katako area of Gombe, Gombe State.

The suspects were caught with three big blocks of skunk that weighed 2.738kg at the time of their arrest by NDLEA operatives. 

While Ngozi Gaius, 39, was nabbed along Zaria/Kano road, Kano State on Friday June 12 conveying 6,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, two suspects: Nasiru Hamza, 47; and Muhammad Sani, 38, were apprehended by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu road, Kwara State while conveying 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304kg in a black Toyota jeep with special registration number P JHR 783 on Tuesday June 9.

In Taraba State, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence on Saturday June 13 raided the warehouse of a notorious dealer Ali Adamu, 45, at Maihula village, Bali LGA where 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5 kilograms, were recovered. 

Same day, operatives on patrol along Gwagwalada Expressway, FCT Abuja, arrested Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, and seized from him assorted illicit substances including 30,400 pills of tramadol 225mg and 100mg; 750 pills of pregabline 300mg; 200 pills of molly; and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

A large consignment of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,102 kilograms, was recovered around Alaba International Market, Ojo area of Lagos State on Saturday June 13.