\n\n
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, identified as Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine. According to the agency, Cyril was intercepted while attempting to travel to Italy through Addis Ababa and France. A body scan reportedly indicated that he had swallowed illicit drug parcels, after which he was placed under excretion observation. He subsequently expelled 98 wraps containing cocaine with a combined weight of 1.510 kilogrammes.
The NDLEA said the arrest was part of its continued efforts to disrupt international drug trafficking networks operating through Nigerian airports. The agency has increasingly relied on body scanning and other intelligence-led measures to identify suspected drug couriers attempting to conceal narcotics internally. Cyril’s alleged method involved swallowing individually wrapped parcels before boarding his international flight, a practice that poses serious health risks in addition to the potential criminal consequences. The suspect is now in NDLEA custody as investigators work to establish where the cocaine originated and identify other individuals who may have been involved in the alleged trafficking operation.
The latest arrest adds to a series of major cocaine interceptions involving air passengers in Nigeria, particularly at international airports. The NDLEA has continued to intensify surveillance at airports and other entry and exit points as part of its campaign against the trafficking of illicit drugs. Authorities have also urged travellers to avoid becoming couriers for criminal networks, warning that drug trafficking carries severe legal consequences. Further investigation into the case is expected to determine the intended recipient and destination of the seized cocaine, while the suspect is likely to face prosecution after the completion of investigations.
