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Two Europe-based Nigerian businessmen, Aliocus Godian Odife and Sam Blackborn, have been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to smuggle 200 wraps of cocaine to Paris, France.
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The suspects, intercepted during the clearance of an Air France flight, excreted 3.46 kilogrammes of cocaine after body scans confirmed they had ingested the illicit substance.
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In separate operations, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman with 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway and seized large consignments of cannabis and other illicit drugs across several states.
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The nationwide operations also resulted in multiple arrests, the recovery of hundreds of thousands of controlled drug tablets and the destruction of a 1.646-hectare cannabis plantation in Edo State.
November 1, (THEWILL) – Two Europe-based Nigerian businessmen have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after they were caught attempting to smuggle 200 wraps of cocaine concealed in their stomachs to Paris, France.
The suspects, identified as Aliocus Godian Odife and Sam Blackborn, were intercepted on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 832 scheduled to depart Abuja for Paris.
They subsequently excreted a combined 200 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.46 kilogrammes while under observation by NDLEA operatives.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, detailing a series of anti-drug operations conducted across the country in the past week.
According to the statement, Odife, who claimed to live in France and work in a factory, arrived in Nigeria on October 21 for a short holiday but was arrested while attempting to return to Europe.
He was subjected to a body scan during the departure clearance process, which revealed foreign objects in his stomach.
During interrogation, Odife admitted ingesting 110 pellets of cocaine. He was subsequently placed under observation, during which he excreted all 110 wraps. The recovered cocaine weighed 1.901 kilogrammes.
His co-traveller, Blackborn, was also intercepted at the airport’s departure hall after a body scan confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his stomach.
He admitted swallowing 90 pellets of cocaine and subsequently excreted all the wraps under observation. The recovered substance weighed 1.559 kilogrammes. Both consignments tested positive for cocaine.
Woman Arrested With 266 Rounds Of AK-47 Ammunition
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway arrested a woman, Aisha Isah, at a toll gate with 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition.
The agency did not disclose the intended destination of the ammunition or the circumstances surrounding its transportation.
Along the Zaria-Kano Expressway, operatives arrested a 68-year-old man, Ifeanyi Egwolonwu, at Gwargwaje, Zaria, with 2,770 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 100 ampoules of diazepam injection, 11,000 tablets of diazepam and 4,500 tablets of Exol-5.
In another operation at Tashan Banke area of Kaduna State, seven suspects, including Faisal Adamu, were arrested.
The operatives recovered 178.85 kilogrammes of cannabis, alongside quantities of diazepam, tramadol, Exol-5 and pregabalin.
NDLEA Intercepts Nearly One Tonne Of Cannabis In Lagos
In Lagos, operatives acting on intelligence about the movement of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, from the Island to the Mainland intercepted a white Volkswagen LT 28 bus along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, on Sunday, October 25.
A total of 537 kilogrammes of the substance was recovered from the vehicle.
On the same day, another team intercepted a brown J5 bus along the Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway, seizing an additional 439 kilogrammes of skunk.
In Oyo State, operatives on Thursday, October 29, conducted a follow-up operation along Idere Road, Igboora, where they arrested two suspects, Oguntona Nasiru, 46, and Soji Balogun, 47.
The suspects were arrested while allegedly loading 554 kilogrammes of skunk into a Volvo truck for onward transportation.
The operation targeted a suspected drug dealer identified as Omo Oba, who reportedly escaped arrest on October 25 when NDLEA operatives seized 309.5 kilogrammes of cannabis, popularly known as Ghanaian Loud, linked to him.
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Kano Raids Yield Hundreds Of Thousands Of Drug Tablets
In Kano State, NDLEA operatives on Monday, October 26, raided a location in the Tsamiya area of Gezawa, recovering 247,500 tablets of diazepam weighing 57.7 kilogrammes and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5 weighing 38.7 kilogrammes.
Two days later, on Wednesday, October 28, another team raided the Dorayi area, where two suspects, Ziya’ulhaq Abdullahi, 35, and Garba Muhammed, 52, were arrested with 19,250 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 13.6 kilogrammes.
In Ondo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided cannabis farms in Ijare Forest on Sunday, October 25, arresting four suspects, including Bassey Okon, 24; Abraham Edet, 20; and Oto Udo, 24.
The operation led to the recovery of 16 bags of processed cannabis weighing 180 kilogrammes.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, raided Eko Camp in Ilushi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, on Wednesday, October 28.
The operation resulted in the destruction of a cannabis plantation measuring 1.646 hectares, with an estimated yield of 4,115.53 kilogrammes.
A 50-year-old woman, Christiana Uboi, was arrested at the camp with 301 kilogrammes of processed cannabis, while another 176 kilogrammes of the substance was recovered during the raid.
In Sokoto State, operatives of the agency’s Zone 7 Command, acting on credible intelligence on Saturday, October 31, arrested a 68-year-old man, Ibrahim Ayuba, with 236.6 kilogrammes of skunk.
Marwa Commends Officers, Warns Drug Traffickers
Commending officers and men of the NDLEA commands in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Ondo, Oyo and Edo for the arrests and seizures, the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the interception of the two cocaine couriers at Abuja airport as a warning to drug traffickers who believe their foreign residence could shield them from detection.
Marwa said NDLEA operatives at the country’s entry and exit points remained alert to attempts to traffic illicit substances across Nigerian borders.
He warned that those who ingest drugs for transportation expose themselves to serious risks, including loss of life and imprisonment.
The NDLEA chairman charged officers and men of the agency across the country to sustain the current tempo of operations against drug trafficking networks while strengthening efforts to reduce drug demand.
He also directed them to intensify the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency said its commands and formations conducted several enlightenment activities during the week, including lectures for students and staff of Obawole Grammar School II, Ojodu, Lagos; Nsukka High School, Nsukka, Enugu State; Government Technical College, Dorayi Babba Rijiyar Zaki, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State; and Ajagbe Comprehensive High School, Iperu, Ogun State.
The activities formed part of the NDLEA’s nationwide efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and discourage the trafficking and distribution of illicit substances.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
