Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
KANO, Nigeria – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrest a 62-year-old Lagos-based businessman at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine to China.
The suspect, identified as Nwabueze Izueke, is intercepted during passenger processing for an Ethiopian Airlines flight transiting through Addis Ababa, according to the NDLEA.
In a statement on Sunday, agency spokesperson Femi Babafemi says the suspect is flagged during clearance and subjected to further screening, which confirms he concealed illicit drugs internally.
“Under medical observation, the suspect excreted 95 wraps of cocaine weighing a total of 1.589 kilograms,” Babafemi says.
Investigators say Izueke, who trades in clothing and auto spare parts in Lagos, claims he turned to drug trafficking in a bid to raise funds to complete a house project in his hometown of Iwollo, Enugu State.
The arrest forms part of a wider nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, the agency says.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives recover 627.7 kilograms of skunk from a temporary warehouse in Kubwa, and intercept methamphetamine concealed in MP3 speakers en route from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna, leading to multiple arrests.
Further operations in Oyo, Imo, Ondo, Taraba, Kwara, Lagos and Enugu states result in additional seizures of cannabis, tramadol and other illicit substances.
In Ibadan, officers arrest suspects with large quantities of pentazocine injections and tramadol capsules, while another raid uncovers a facility linked to synthetic cannabis production.
NDLEA says investigations are ongoing and suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of inquiries.
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Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Mirian Gom 