The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. He was caught trying to smuggle 72 wraps of cocaine to Portugal.
The NDLEA said Chukwulobelu turned to drug trafficking to pay off his wedding bills. His wedding took place on September 13, 2026.
The agency shared this information in a statement from its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.
According to the statement, Chukwulobelu, who lives in Portugal, was stopped by NDLEA officers at the departure hall of the Enugu airport on Thursday, September 25. He was about to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal via Addis Ababa.
Babafemi noted that the suspect had cocaine hidden in his stomach and was still wearing his wedding ring when he was arrested.
The suspect was put under observation to monitor his excretion. He ended up passing out a total of 72 wraps of cocaine.
The statement said, "The groom was intercepted by NDLEA officers at the departure hall of the Enugu airport on Thursday, 25th September 2026, with cocaine in his gut and a wedding ring on his finger while he attempted to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal via Addis Ababa. He was subsequently placed under excretion observation during which he egested a total of 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug."
Chukwulobelu claimed he was in the car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos before he moved to Portugal in May 2023. He said he came back to Nigeria recently to get married on September 13, 2026.
He admitted that he turned to this illegal activity to cover the costs of his wedding.
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