The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that its operatives 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.
The suspect, identified as Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was arrested in the airport’s departure hall on Saturday while trying to board a British Airways aircraft to London, according to a statement released on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, director of media and advocacy at NDLEA headquarters.
According to Babafemi, the suspect—who claimed to be on vacation in London—was apprehended during normal inspections.
He explained that when the suspect’s luggage was searched, 11 kg of cocaine were found wrapped in foil papers and balloons and hidden in culinary items like crushed dry pepper.
Babafemi added that the arrest was a part of the agency’s week-long nationwide operations.
Meanwhile, in Lagos the NDLEA agents also detained Maryam Olalowo at the Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, when she was allegedly trying to sell 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a cannabis strain, and 89 grams of cocaine based on reliable information.
Babafemi claimed that at the time of the arrest, the suspect was discovered with her three children, one of them was a baby.
He further stated that she informed detectives that her husband, Ibrahim Olatunji, was the owner of the illegal substances.
He claimed that the wife was freed right away, but the husband was later arrested that same day.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Olatunji acknowledged possessing the pills while being questioned.
“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.
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