NDLEA catches businessman trying to smuggle cocaine to Italy

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 30-year-old businessman, Joseph Cyril, who lives in Italy. He was caught swallowing 98 wraps of cocaine while trying to travel to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.

According to a statement from the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Cyril was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. This happened on Sunday, August 2, during the clearance of passengers for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.

Babafemi explained that Cyril was put under observation to see if he would pass the drugs. He eventually expelled 98 wraps of cocaine that weighed 1.510 kilograms.

The statement said, "The suspect who was nabbed at the departure hall of the airport on Sunday, 2nd August 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, was subsequently placed on excretion observation during which he excreted 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms."

In the investigation details, Babafemi said, "Investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived Nigeria from Italy on 13th July 2026 and ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State before proceeding to Enugu to board his flight to Europe on Sunday 2nd August."

The NDLEA spokesman also mentioned that the suspect admitted he agreed to smuggle the drugs for money.

"In his statement, he claimed he has been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug consignment for a fee of 3,500 Euros in order to raise money to relocate to Germany where his family is based," Babafemi said.