NDLEA intercepts Italy-bound businessman with 4.8KG cocaine hidden in shoes, bag railing

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.8 kilogrammes of cocaine to Milan, Italy, concealed in the soles of shoes and railings of travelling bags.

Tunde was arrested on September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Malan.

According to the director of media and advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafem, on Sunday, operatives recovered 16 parcels of cocaine concealed in eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, as well as 195 wraps hidden inside the railings of four travelling bags.

The agency said the exhibits, which tested positive for cocaine, weighed 4.80kg.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly disclosed that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine hidden in the shoes, while the consignment concealed in the bags was intended for delivery to his partner in Italy.

He reportedly claimed that the money used to purchase the drugs came from compensation he received following an industrial injury in Italy, which resulted in the loss of the tips of two fingers.

The interception came as NDLEA operatives intensified operations against international drug trafficking networks, recording major seizures at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne seaports.

At Apapa Port, Lagos, operatives recovered 124kg of Thai Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons in a container from Bangkok, Thailand. The consignment was valued at N372 million.

At Onne Port, Rivers State, another 22kg of Loud was discovered hidden in a travelling bag and three vehicles shipped in a container, while a second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg.

The agency said the consignments of Loud and codeine seized at Onne had a combined street value of N833.2 million.

At Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, NDLEA operatives also intercepted 1,297.5kg of Canadian Loud concealed inside a Toyota Sienna and Hyundai Elantra, alongside other items in a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada. The consignment was valued at more than N3.8 billion.

The seizures pushed the value of major drug consignments intercepted at the three ports to more than N5 billion.

In another major operation, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234kg of skunk cultivated on 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun state.

The operation, carried out on September 30, followed the arrest of suspects involved in the cultivation of the illicit crop.

In Plateau state, operatives arrested 41-year-old Agbo Dennis at West of Mines, Jos North, with 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Lagos recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol from an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace.

The agency also arrested 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo at Ladipo spare parts market following the seizure of 61 grammes of Colorado and 24 grammes of methamphetamine concealed inside an energy-drink bottle being transported as a waybill package.

In Kogi state, operatives intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commercial bus along the Okene-Lokoja highway and recovered two sachets of methamphetamine weighing 1kg.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, in Utako, Abuja.

In Edo state, a raid on the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi at Uyere community, Ovia North-East LGA, yielded 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.

Another suspect, 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael, was arrested along Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with Loud, Colorado, Tramadol, methamphetamine, Swinol and Molly.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA has also rearrested 47-year-old Idris Mohammed Kurra, who had been on the run for six years after allegedly jumping bail in a drug trafficking case.

Kurra was facing trial before the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau state, over alleged possession and dealing in 198kg of skunk when he reportedly jumped bail in December 2020.

His arrest, according to the agency, brings to an end his six-year period as a fugitive.