A Brazil-based businessman, Ezeokoli Sylva, was arrested at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) for attempting to smuggle 700 grams of cocaine in his stomach, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confirmed on Sunday.
The 59-year-old was detained on Friday, November 29, 2024, upon arriving in Nigeria from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. NDLEA officers scanned him and discovered foreign objects inside his stomach. Following excretion observation, Sylva expelled 29 wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of 700 grams.
“I operate an African store in Brazil, where I sell provisions, shoes, and clothes. I bought the cocaine in São Paulo to resell in Nigeria, hoping to raise capital to expand my business,” Sylva told officials.
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This arrest is part of the NDLEA’s broader efforts to curb drug trafficking. Earlier in the week, officers intercepted 200 grams of cocaine and 40 ampoules of pentazocine injection being sent to the UK. The drugs were hidden in local fabrics and cartons, respectively.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects on November 28, 2024, with a large haul of pentazocine injection and Exol-5 pills. Meanwhile, in Lagos, 2,120 kilograms of cannabis known as “Ghanaian Loud” were seized at Ilesan beach, leading to one arrest. Another 472 kilograms of the same drug were intercepted in Ogun state.
Further arrests were made in Benin City, Edo state, where two suspects were caught with 185.6 kilograms of cannabis. This seizure was part of ongoing operations by the NDLEA to tackle drug abuse across Nigeria.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of operatives nationwide. “Their dedication to reducing drug supply and demand is making a significant impact in the fight against drug abuse,” he said.
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