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NDLEA Nabs Newlywed With 72 Wraps of Cocaine at Enugu Airport
The NDLEA has arrested a 25-year-old newlywed at Enugu Airport after he allegedly ingested 72 wraps of cocaine bound for Portugal.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu for allegedly attempting to traffic cocaine to Portugal.
The NDLEA said Chukwulobelu was intercepted at the airport's departure hall on Thursday, September 25, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa.
According to the agency, the suspect had ingested the cocaine and was placed under excretion observation following his arrest. He subsequently egested 72 wraps of the Class A drug.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday.
The agency said Chukwulobelu, who resides in Portugal, had returned to Nigeria recently and got married on September 13.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect told investigators that he previously operated a car-decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos before relocating to Portugal in May 2023.
The agency said he claimed that he turned to drug trafficking in an attempt to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.
At the time of his arrest, the NDLEA said Chukwulobelu was wearing his wedding ring.
The agency's latest operation also resulted in a major opioid seizure at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
On Tuesday, September 22, NDLEA operatives conducted a joint examination of three monitored consignments at the airport's import shed and recovered 2,550,000 pills of Tramaking 225mg, Tramaking 250mg and Royal Tapentadol 250mg.
The consignments had a combined gross weight of 1,640.55 kilogrammes and were imported from India and Bangladesh through Qatar Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.
The agency described the seizure as one of its major opioid interceptions of the year.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged personnel to sustain intelligence-led enforcement against drug trafficking and illicit drug production.
The allegations against Chukwulobelu remain subject to investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.