NDLEA Nabs Fake Couple Attempting to Smuggle Cocaine, Foils Other Drug Trafficking Attempts Across Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant strides in its fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria, with recent operations leading to the arrest of a fake couple attempting to smuggle cocaine and the seizure of various drugs concealed in ingenious ways.

In a statement released by the spokesperson of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, it was revealed that operatives arrested Mr. Ilonzeh Onyebuchi and Mrs. Ilonzeh Nonyelum, who claimed to be traveling to India for medical treatment. However, they were found to have ingested 184 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.32 kilograms, with an additional 100 grams of the drug concealed in the woman’s private part.

The suspects were intercepted at the Lagos airport while trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight to India. Despite their travel documents showing them as a couple, further investigation revealed that they were not married but used the same surname to evade security checks. The woman, later identified as Ngogbike Nkechi, confessed that she was recruited for the drug trafficking in her church in Aba, Abia State.

During a thorough search, a significant amount of cocaine was discovered in her private part, and she confessed to being promised $5,000 upon successful delivery of the drug in India. The man, Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi, claimed to be into clothing business in Onitsha, Anambra State, and said he was promised $2,000 for the smuggling operation.

In a surprising twist, it was revealed that Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi had been previously arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in 2022, for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.24 kilograms. He was granted bail and was still on bail when he was arrested again at the Lagos airport for a similar offense.

The NDLEA also intercepted various quantities of drugs concealed in different objects destined for Europe. These included dextromethorphan mixed with heroin, methamphetamine, dimethyl sulfone, and cannabis hidden in various items such as neck beads, bars of soap, reels of weaving threads, and an MP3 player.

In Kano State, a woman and four men were arrested in connection with the seizure of 977.7 kilograms of cannabis sativa by NDLEA operatives along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora. In Borno State, 2,450 kilograms of cannabis sativa were recovered from the warehouse of a fleeing suspect, Usman Nar, in Madinatu area of Jere Local Government Area.

Additionally, a suspect named Joseph Usman was apprehended with 57,450 pills of tramadol, rohypnol, and exol-5, along with 4,082 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a commercial bus traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Abuja along Abaji-Abuja highway.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men involved in these operations for their diligence, vigilance, and professionalism. He urged them to remain vigilant and continue their efforts in tackling drug trafficking across the country.

The NDLEA’s recent successes serve as a testament to their dedication to eradicating drug-related crimes and protecting the Nigerian society from the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking. The agency’s continued efforts are crucial in maintaining peace, security, and social stability in the nation.