Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a Milan-bound businessman, Philip Tunde, with 4.80 kilograms of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. The 38-year-old suspect was arrested on Sunday, 27th September 2026, at the joint screening point, Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport ahead of his Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.
A thorough search by NDLEA operatives led to the recovery of 16 parcels of white powdery substance hidden in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, plus 195 wraps of the same substance concealed in the railings of four travelling bags. The substances tested positive for cocaine, with a combined weight of 4.80kg.
During an interview, the suspect claimed he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine in the shoes, while the consignment in the bags was meant for delivery to his partner in Italy. He said he raised the money from compensation paid to him for an injury at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, in which he lost the tips of two fingers.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa, Tincan Island and Onne seaports have intercepted container consignments of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis and codeine-based syrup worth over N5 billion, following months of intelligence and tracking the movement of the shipments from their ports of origin.
At the Apapa port in Lagos, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination with men of Customs and other stakeholders. A search of one of the containers yielded 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg, worth N372,000,000, concealed in two refrigerators and two cartons.
The NDLEA also made several other seizures across the country, including 20,234 kilograms of skunk destroyed on 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Osun State, and 209,000 tablets of tramadol recovered in Lagos. Multiple suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizures, including a 47-year-old fugitive who was arrested six years after jumping bail.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men involved in the operations for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach, and urged them to sustain the onslaught against drug trafficking networks.
Key points
- The NDLEA intercepted a total of 4.80kg of cocaine concealed in shoe soles and travel bag railings.
- The agency also made several other seizures across the country, including consignments of Loud and codeine-based syrup worth over N5 billion.
- Multiple suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, including a 47-year-old fugitive who was arrested six years after jumping bail.
