Eagle-eyed operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 48-year-old Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly concealing cocaine on his body and inside his footwear.
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Onyekwere was arrested on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the arrival hall of the Lagos airport during the inward clearance of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg, following actionable intelligence.
A statement on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said a body scan conducted on the suspect confirmed the presence of illicit drugs, leading to a strip search.
The statement said, “A Brazil based Nigerian businessman Uche Franklin Onyekwere has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja-Lagos for concealing parcels of cocaine in his private part and soles of his footwear.
“Onyekwere was arrested on Thursday 29th January 2026 during the inward clearance of South African Airways flight passengers arriving from Brazil via Johannesburg following processed intelligence. When the 47-year-old suspect was taken for full body scan, the result confirmed illicit drug concealment.
“As a result, he was subjected to a strip search, during which a big parcel of white powdery substance, which later tested positive for cocaine, was discovered wrapped around his right thigh.”
Babafemi disclosed that three wraps of cocaine weighing a total of 1.60 kilograms were recovered from the suspect.
“A further search revealed two additional wraps of the same substance concealed in the sole of a pair of flat shoes worn by the suspect. In all, three large wraps of cocaine, with a gross weight of 1.60 kilograms, were recovered from his body and footwear.
During preliminary interrogation, Onyekwere reportedly admitted purchasing the drugs in Brazil to resell them in Nigeria in order to raise capital for his business and fund the naming ceremony of his newborn child.
“During a preliminary interview, the suspect revealed he purchased the illicit drug consignment in Brazil with the intention to resell the cocaine in Nigeria in order to raise capital to boost his business and also finance the naming ceremony of his newly born child.
“The suspect who lives in Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, claimed that he has been living in Brazil since 2008 while he has been operating a toy business for about nine years.”
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan Seaport, Lagos, intercepted 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 1,183 kilograms.
The statement added, “At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, a total of 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 1,183 kilograms imported from Montreal, Canada in a container was discovered on Wednesday 28th January during a joint examination of the shipment by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies. The illicit consignments were hidden inside two vehicles: a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix car.
“In Niger State, officers intercepted a truck with 176 bags of skunk weighing 2,735kg and one kilogram of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis. arresting three suspects—Andy Chidogu, 49; Kenneth Ogene, 45; and Sadiq Olanrewaju, 27”
The statement added, “In Niger state, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Tuesday 26th January intercepted a long truck marked T 31589 LA along Dei-Dei Abuja expressway where they arrested the trio of Andy Chidogu, 49; Kenneth Ogene, 45; and Sadiq Olanrewaju, 27, for conveying 176 bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 2,735 kilograms and 1 kilogram of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, concealed in the truck.
“Investigations revealed that Kenneth Ogene who drives the truck left Lagos on 23rd January loaded with 800 bags of flour to Ekpoma, Edo State and arrived the following day 24th January. In Ekpoma, he then negotiated to transport the 176 bags of skunk and 1kg Colos for N1.7million.
“Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Edo State arrested Shaibu Yusuf along the Auchi–Abuja Expressway with 66 bags of skunk weighing 792kg concealed in charcoal sacks.
“In another operation, officers, with support from the Nigerian Army, raided a cannabis farm in Ebora camp, Ilushi, Esan South East Local Government Area, destroying 4,063.675kg of skunk on over 1.6 hectares of farmland and recovering 328kg of processed cannabis.”
The statement added, “In another interdiction operation, NDLEA operatives in Edo state on Tuesday 27th January arrested Shaibu Yusuf along Auchi-Abuja express road while looking for a vehicle to convey 66 bags of skunk concealed in bags of charcoal, weighing 792kg, to Katsina. Also, in Edo, operatives supported by Nigerian Army personnel on Wednesday 28th January raided a cannabis farm at Ebora camp, Ilushi in Esan South East LGA where 4,063.675kg skunk was destroyed on over 1.6 hectares farmland while 328kg processed cannabis and its seeds were recovered. Suspects arrested at the camp include: Jeremiah Nwodeh, 46; Chukwudi Pius,33; Pius Ogaba, 46; and Onora Kwene, 35.”
In Anambra State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, on January 28, recovering 345.2kg of skunk concealed among bags of cement. The drug was allegedly owned by Abum Okeke, 42.
“In Anambra state, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 28th January intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka Onitsha, heading to Nkpor. A search of the trailer revealed that bags of cement were used to conceal 345.2kg skunk owned Abum Okeke, 42, who was one of the three occupants of the truck at the time of arrest.
“In Ondo State, two suspects—Tunde Ogundele, 39, and Soji Elegbelye, 46—were arrested in connection with the seizure of 473kg of skunk, while in Kano State, officers arrested Abdullahi Usman, 45, with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection. Another suspect, Musa Shuaibu, 42, was nabbed with 4,390 pills of tramadol in Gaya area of the state.”
The statement added, “At least, two suspects: Tunde Ogundele,39, and Soji Elegbelye, 46, were on Monday 26th January arrested at Eleyewo community in Akure North area of Ondo state, in connection with the seizure of 473kg skunk, while NDLEA operatives in Kano on same day nabbed Abdullahi Usman, 45, at Murtala Mohammed way, with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection recovered from him. Not less than 4,390 pills of tramadol were seized from another suspect Musa Shuaibu, 42, when he was arrested in Gaya area of Kano on Tuesday 27th January.
Elsewhere, NDLEA officers arrested Oragwan Ekene at Okeyson Park, Alaba, Lagos, with 15.5kg of skunk heading to Onitsha, while 3.5kg of the substance was recovered from a sound system and cereal packs in the luggage of Omang Peter Edward at the Seme border, Badagry.
“While Oragwan Ekene was arrested on Friday 30th January at Okeyson park, Alaba, Lagos, with 15.5kg skunk heading to Onitsha, Anambra state with the illicit consignment, 3.5kg of same psychoactive substance was recovered from a sound system and two packets of cereal found in the luggage of Omang Peter Edward at the arrival tarmac of Seme border, Badagry on Tuesday 27th January. The suspect was coming from Cotonou, Benin Republic into Lagos.”
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