Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, after cocaine concealed in food items was found in his luggage.
In a statement released on Sunday, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA headquarters, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect, identified as Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was apprehended at the departure hall of the airport on Saturday while attempting to board a British Airways flight to London.
Babafemi said the suspect, who claimed he was travelling to London for vacation, was intercepted during routine checks.
He added that a search of the suspect’s luggage led to the discovery of blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilogrammes concealed in food items, including ground dry pepper, and wrapped in foil papers and balloons.
Babafemi said the arrest was part of a series of operations carried out by the agency across the country in the past week.
In Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while she was allegedly attempting to sell 89 grammes of cocaine and 20 grammes of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.
He said the suspect was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest.
Babafemi added that she told investigators the illicit drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olatunji.
He said the husband was subsequently arrested the same day while the woman was immediately released.
Babafemi said Olatunji confirmed ownership of the drugs during interrogation.
“Further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted, and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015,” the statement reads.
