Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, for ingested 98 wraps of cocaine.
Cyril was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, on Sunday, August 2, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, ET930, to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.
Following his arrest, the suspect was placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms.
According to the NDLEA, investigations revealed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 before allegedly ingesting the cocaine at a hotel in Awka.
He subsequently travelled to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.
In his statement to investigators, Cyril said he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to traffic the drug for €3,500.
He said he accepted the deal to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have intercepted several consignments of cocaine and other illicit drugs in different parts of the country.
In Lagos, operatives thwarted an attempt to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers to Saudi Arabia through a courier company.
A separate attempt to send 500 grams of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was also foiled at another logistics company on Monday, August 3.
On Tuesday, August 4, NDLEA operatives intercepted 2.3 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, in a shipment from the United States at another shipping company in Lagos.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck conveying 1,633 kilograms of skunk allegedly concealed in bags of rice shafts.
Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
In Oyo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area. The operation resulted in the recovery of 731.03 kilograms of illicit drugs and the arrest of a 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson. Her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5 kilograms at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area, on Wednesday, August 5.
In Abia State, a suspected drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6.
About seven kilograms of skunk was recovered during the operation.
In Lagos, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt.
The NDLEA said 88.5 kilograms of skunk was recovered from him.
The agency also reported the seizure of 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4 kilograms.
The products were discovered during a joint examination of a 40-foot container at the Tin Can Island Port Complex in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.