Brazilian National Arrested at Abuja Airport With 30kg of Heroin Hidden in Coffee Packs
- Jan 26
- 2 min read
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazilian woman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after uncovering a large consignment of heroin concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Ingrid Rosa Benevides, was apprehended on Friday, January 23, shortly after arriving in Nigeria aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha. NDLEA officials said the arrest followed actionable intelligence that flagged the passenger for close monitoring on arrival.
A search of her checked luggage revealed 21 sealed packs branded as Brazilian coffee. Further examination, however, showed that the packages contained a white powdery substance, which tested positive for heroin. The total weight of the drugs was put at 30.09 kilograms, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦3 billion.
NDLEA authorities disclosed that Benevides, who reportedly works as a private security officer in Brazil, claimed during preliminary questioning that she travelled to Nigeria for a holiday, insisting she was unaware of the true contents of the luggage. Investigators are continuing to probe the circumstances surrounding the attempted smuggling and possible links to international drug trafficking networks.
The agency described the seizure as the largest single heroin interception ever recorded at the Abuja airport.
In a separate operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted two outbound passengers en route to Istanbul, Turkey. The suspects were found with nearly 4,000 pills of controlled pharmaceutical opioids concealed inside food items packed in their bags.
Meanwhile, NDLEA’s Marine Command also recorded a major seizure in the early hours of January 22, intercepting a wooden boat at Jakande Beach, Lekki, loaded with 44 jumbo bags of high-potency cannabis, popularly known as Ghana Loud. The consignment, weighing about 1,848 kilograms, was allegedly trafficked into Nigeria via coastal waters from Ghana.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the arrests and seizures highlight the agency’s sustained efforts to dismantle both local and international drug trafficking operations across airports, borders and waterways. He added that all suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
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