Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a businessman, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano State, with 256 wraps of cocaine concealed in his body. The seized consignment, weighing 6 kilograms, marks the largest cocaine interception at the airport since the NDLEA established its MAKIA Command in 2006.

The arrest, which took place during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 from Abidjan via Addis Ababa, was hailed as a milestone by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi. “This seizure underscores the agency’s relentless efforts to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria,” Babafemi stated.

Further investigations revealed that Olisaka, an importer and exporter, had meticulously concealed the cocaine pellets in his body. His arrest not only disrupted a significant trafficking operation but also highlighted the growing sophistication of smugglers attempting to exploit Nigeria’s airports.

In a related crackdown, NDLEA operatives thwarted another smuggling attempt at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). An ex-convict, Olanrewaju Bada Akorede, was apprehended at the airport’s export shed while trying to smuggle Rohypnol to South Africa. The drugs were cleverly hidden among cargo items, including gari, shoes, and men’s singlets.

Babafemi disclosed that Olanrewaju was a repeat offender, having been convicted for a similar offence in December 2023. Despite paying a N900,000 fine to avoid a two-year prison sentence, he returned to drug trafficking, underscoring the challenge of deterring repeat offenders.

Another significant arrest occurred at Lagos airport’s Terminal 2, where Italy-based businesswoman Cynthia Akaeen was caught attempting to smuggle tramadol to Italy on a Royal Air Maroc flight. NDLEA officials recovered 9,190 tablets of tramadol, weighing 6 kilograms, from her luggage. Cynthia admitted she was promised 1,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Italy.

These arrests highlight the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders. As the agency ramps up its vigilance, it sends a clear message to traffickers that the risks of smuggling outweigh the rewards.

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