NEWLYWED ARRESTED WITH 72 WRAPS OF COCAINE AT ENUGU AIRPORT 25-Year-Old Groom Allegedly Swallows Cocaine Bound For Portugal

ENUGU — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for allegedly attempting to traffic 72 wraps of cocaine to Portugal. The suspect was intercepted at the departure hall of the Enugu airport while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal via Addis Ababa, according to the NDLEA. The agency said Chukwulobelu had allegedly ingested the cocaine, concealing the illicit drug in his stomach. Following his arrest, he was placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled all 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug. The NDLEA said the suspect, who resides in Portugal, had returned to Nigeria recently and got married According to information released by the agency, Chukwulobelu told investigators that he previously operated a car-decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos before relocating to Portugal in May 2023. He reportedly said he became involved in drug trafficking in an attempt to offset expenses incurred during his wedding. The NDLEA statement, signed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, was released on Sunday, September 27. The agency's account said the suspect was intercepted while wearing his wedding ring and preparing to leave the country. The Enugu operation formed part of a wider series of drug-control operations conducted by the NDLEA across the country during the period. In a separate operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA operatives seized 2.55 million pills of opioids, including Tramaking 225mg, Tramaking 250mg and Royal Tapentadol 250mg, with a combined gross weight of 1,640.55 kilogrammes. The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended the officers involved in the various operations and urged personnel to sustain efforts against illicit drug trafficking and abuse. The arrest at Akanu Ibiam International Airport has once again highlighted the role of Nigeria's airports as critical points in the country's fight against international drug trafficking.