China-Based Nigerian, Two Angolans Excrete 236 Cocaine Pellets After Airport Arrests
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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted three foreign-bound passengers who later expelled a total of 236 wraps of cocaine after separate arrests at Nigeria’s major international airports. The suspects include a Nigerian businessman based in China and two Angolan nationals, all apprehended during intelligence-driven screening operations.
The Nigerian suspect, 34-year-old Ibeanu Chukwudulue, was stopped while travelling on a Qatar Airways flight heading to China with stopovers in Abuja and Doha. Acting on prior intelligence, security officials requested that he be removed from the aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for further examination.
A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances. He was placed under medical observation and subsequently expelled 52 pellets of cocaine weighing about 735.95 grams. During interrogation, he reportedly stated that he previously ran a business on Lagos Island before relocating to Guangzhou in 2024.
On the same day in Kano, two Angolan nationals were intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport during clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Istanbul via Addis Ababa. Routine screening procedures flagged them for additional checks.
Medical scans revealed both men had swallowed narcotics. Under observation, 50-year-old Mbandu Makiadi excreted 76 wraps of cocaine weighing approximately 920 grams, while 52-year-old Ngoma Wilson Fernando expelled 108 pellets with a combined weight of about 1.33 kilograms. Investigators said the suspects claimed they were recruited in Luanda by a spare parts dealer who promised each of them $3,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs in Turkey.
In a separate operation in Lagos, the agency uncovered an attempt to ship 1.10 kilograms of cocaine concealed in processed cassava flakes to London on a Virgin Atlantic flight. The plot was allegedly coordinated by a convicted trafficker currently serving a five-year sentence at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
Officials disclosed that the inmate managed the scheme from prison through his logistics company, directing an associate to present the consignment for export. The staff member who handled the parcel was arrested, and investigations traced the package to a pickup location in Oshodi.
Additional crackdowns across Lagos, Abuja, Oyo, and Kwara states led to further seizures, including cannabis concealed in export goods, methamphetamine, tramadol pills, large sums of cash, and vehicles. The agency said the operations form part of intensified nationwide efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks exploiting airports and logistics channels.
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