NDLEA arrests Brazilian returnee – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The arrest took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the airport’s arrival hall during routine inward screening of passengers arriving on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg.
NDLEA Arrests Brazilian Returnee Following Intelligence Report
According to the NDLEA, the arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that the suspect was attempting to traffic illicit drugs into the country. Acting on the information, NDLEA officers subjected the suspect to enhanced screening procedures.
A body scan conducted on the 47-year-old businessman revealed suspicious objects concealed on his body, prompting further investigation by the operatives.
Cocaine Hidden on Body and Inside Footwear
During a strip search, NDLEA officers discovered a large wrap of a white powdery substance, later confirmed to be cocaine, tied around the suspect’s right thigh.
Further examination uncovered two additional wraps of cocaine hidden inside the soles of a pair of flat shoes worn by the suspect at the time of his arrest.
In total, three wraps of cocaine weighing 1.60 kilograms were recovered from his body and footwear.
Suspect Confesses Purpose of Drug Smuggling
In his preliminary statement to NDLEA investigators, Onyekwere admitted that he purchased the cocaine in Brazil with the intention of selling it in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the proceeds from the illegal transaction were meant to raise capital for his business and also to fund the naming ceremony of his newborn child.
Suspect’s Background and Residence
The suspect, who resides at Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, Brazil, revealed that he has lived in Brazil since 2008.
He further claimed to have been running a toy business for about nine years before his arrest by NDLEA operatives.
NDLEA Reaffirms Commitment to Drug War
The NDLEA has reiterated its commitment to combating drug trafficking and transnational drug crimes, especially at Nigeria’s international entry points.
The agency warned that it will continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations to intercept drug traffickers, regardless of their status or country of residence.
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