Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for concealing on his body and inside his footwear. The 47-year-old suspect was intercepted on Thursday, January 29, 2026, after arriving on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg, following actionable intelligence.
A full-body scan revealed illicit drugs, and a subsequent strip search uncovered three wraps of weighing 1.60 kilograms. During preliminary questioning, Onyekwere reportedly admitted purchasing the drugs in Brazil to resell in Nigeria to raise capital for his business and fund his newborn child’s naming ceremony.
In related operations, NDLEA teams across the country made significant seizures of illicit substances. At Tincan Seaport, Lagos, 1,183 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis were intercepted in two vehicles. In Niger State, 2,735 kilograms of skunk cannabis and one kilogram of synthetic cannabis were seized, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Edo State operatives raided a cannabis farm in Ilushi, destroying over 4,063 kilograms of skunk and recovering processed cannabis. In Anambra State, 345.2 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a truck at Onitsha, while Ondo State and Kano State also saw arrests and seizures of hundreds of kilograms of cannabis and pharmaceutical drugs.
NDLEA officials emphasized that the operations, conducted with support from other security agencies including the Nigerian Army, target major drug trafficking routes and are part of ongoing efforts to curb the flow of narcotics into and within Nigeria. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health and national security.
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Do you think the NDLEA is doing enough to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria? Im curious to hear different perspectives on this.
Wow, do we really think the NDLEA is doing enough to tackle drug trafficking in Nigeria? Lets discuss!
I cant believe the audacity of these drug traffickers. Nigeria needs to crack down harder on these criminals!
Do you think the NDLEA is doing enough to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria? Share your thoughts!
This is a clear sign that drug trafficking is a serious issue in Nigeria. We need stricter measures to combat this menace!
Wow, crazy how drug trafficking still goes on! Do you think the NDLEA is doing enough to combat this issue?
I cant believe the audacity of these drug smugglers! NDLEA is doing a great job keeping our country safe.
Wow, cant believe the reach of drug trafficking. NDLEA needs to step up their game to combat this issue effectively.
Shouldnt we focus on the root causes of drug trafficking instead of just making arrests? Food for thought.
Wow, this crackdown on drug trafficking is intense! Do you think it will make a real dent in the problem?
Do you think the NDLEA is doing enough to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria? I feel like more needs to be done!
Wow, cant believe the reach of drug trafficking. NDLEAs really cracking down! Wonder how theyll tackle the root of the problem next.
Do you think this arrest will make a real dent in drug trafficking, or is it just a drop in the ocean?
Wow, this is crazy! Do you think the drug problem in Nigeria will ever be completely eradicated? So sad.
Can we trust NDLEAs tactics in drug seizures? Are innocent people being wrongly targeted? Lets discuss.
This is insane! How can a Brazil-based businessman be involved in drug trafficking across Nigeria? Soing fishy is going on here.