A 62-year-old businessman, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

NDLEA officials said he was intercepted during passenger clearance on Saturday, 31 January 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to China via Addis Ababa.

A body scan showed he had ingested illicit drugs, prompting officers to place him under medical observation.

Over seven excretions, he expelled 95 jumbo-sized wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.589kg, according to the agency.

In a statement to investigators, Mr Izueke said he turned to drug trafficking to raise funds to complete a house he is building in his hometown, Iwollo, Enugu State.

Meth hidden in speakers and yoghurt

In Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted consignments of methamphetamine concealed inside Mp3 speakers, allegedly being transported from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna.

The operation led to the arrest of Ebube Okeke, identified as the owner of one parcel containing 173 grams of meth, following a follow-up operation in Zuba, FCT.

Three other suspects, Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Eze Arinze and Friday Michael, were later arrested in Kaduna while attempting to collect a second consignment weighing 28 grams.

In Taraba State, officers at the Dan-Anacha patrol point stopped a suspect, Yusuf Abubakar, who was transporting yoghurt cartons from Lagos to Adamawa.

A search revealed 1.8kg of methamphetamine hidden inside Hollandia yoghurt packs, NDLEA said.

Ibadan drug factory uncovered

In Ibadan, NDLEA operatives dismantled what they described as a synthetic cannabis (Colorado) production facility.

A suspected kingpin, Jimoh Nurudeen, 40, was arrested in the Badeku area, alongside an alleged accomplice, Ogundipe Yusuf, 27.

Recovered items included precursor chemicals, cannabis, drug-making equipment, ₦7.4m in cash, and two vehicles — a Mercedes-Benz SUV and a Toyota Highlander.

Separately, officers arrested Adeniyi Adeola, also known as Prince, at Agbeni market, seizing over 128,000 capsules and ampoules of tramadol and pentazocine from his truck.

Seizures across multiple states

Other NDLEA operations last week led to:

The seizure of 627.7kg of skunk cannabis from a warehouse in Kubwa, Abuja

The arrest of a couple in Imo State with 203kg of skunk

The recovery of 420kg of skunk in a bush in Ondo State

The interception of a fuel tanker in Kwara State carrying 395,400 capsules of tramadol

The seizure of 31 wraps of cocaine from a passenger arriving by boat from Côte d’Ivoire at Badagry

Multiple arrests in Lagos and Enugu involving cocaine, meth, molly and cannabis

What NDLEA is saying

Commending officers involved in the operations, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), urged continued professionalism.

He called on officers nationwide to sustain momentum in both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Beyond arrests: drug education push

The agency said it also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, delivering sensitisation programmes in schools, communities and traditional institutions.

These included outreach visits to secondary schools in Anambra, Oyo and Lagos states, and an advocacy visit to the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim.

What’s next

NDLEA says suspects will be charged to court after investigations, while intelligence-led operations will continue at airports, highways and border routes.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting personal data used in policing, as Nigeria increasingly relies on digital tools for law enforcement.

The PSC Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Salihu Argungu, made the pledge at the National Data Privacy Summit 2026 in Abuja.

The summit, themed “Privacy in the Era of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation,” was organised by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) at the Transcorp Hilton.

Speaking at the event, Argungu said modern policing now depends heavily on data rather than physical surveillance alone.

“In the ongoing recruitment of 50,000 Police Constables and across all our operations, the PSC is dedicated to strict compliance with NDPC policies on data protection,” he said.

He added that safeguarding personal information was essential to maintaining public trust in law enforcement institutions.

Why it matters

Nigeria’s security agencies are collecting more personal data than ever before, from biometric records to digital background checks.

With thousands of new police recruits entering the system, how data is stored, shared and protected has become a growing public concern.

Partnership with data regulators

Mr Argungu praised the NDPC and its National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, for what he described as pioneering efforts to strengthen data protection nationwide.

He also reaffirmed the PSC’s ongoing partnership with the NDPC to ensure ethical data management across police operations.

The PSC said this collaboration would help align law enforcement practices with Nigeria’s data protection laws.

What the law says

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission is responsible for enforcing data privacy standards across public and private institutions.

Under existing regulations, organisations that collect personal data must ensure transparency, consent and secure handling of information.

Failure to comply can attract sanctions, fines or legal action.

What’s next

The PSC says it will continue integrating ethical data practices into recruitment, promotions and disciplinary processes.

Officials say further training and compliance audits are expected as Nigeria deepens its use of digital policing tools.

About the Police Service Commission

The Police Service Commission is a federal executive body empowered to appoint, promote and discipline police officers in Nigeria, except the Inspector-General of Police.

Its mandate is derived from the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Police Service Commission Establishment Act of 2001.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to regional digital integration, saying closer cooperation among West African telecoms regulators is critical to expanding the digital economy and improving citizens’ quality of life.

The pledge was restated when the NCC hosted a high-level delegation from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) at its headquarters in Abuja.

Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, said the region becomes “stronger and more prosperous when all countries are interconnected,” stressing that collaboration remains central to the Commission’s long-standing regulatory strategy.

Why this matters

Telecommunications infrastructure underpins digital banking, cross-border trade, security coordination, and everyday communication across West Africa.

As countries pursue economic integration under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), regulators say affordable and reliable communications services are no longer optional but essential.

The NCC believes deeper regulatory cooperation can unlock faster internet access, lower roaming costs, and new opportunities for businesses operating across borders.

NCC: Collaboration is non-negotiable

Speaking during the visit, Dr Maida, who was represented by the Director of Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management, Dr Kelechi Nwankwo, said the NCC remains committed to sustained engagement with sister regulatory institutions within and beyond the sub-region.

He noted that the Commission’s involvement in platforms such as the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) reflects its belief that shared regulatory frameworks strengthen consumer protection and industry confidence.

“The region becomes stronger and more prosperous when all countries are interconnected,” Maida said.

He added that collaboration remains “a core driver of the NCC Board” and is essential to advancing the interests of telecoms consumers and other stakeholders.

ICT as critical national infrastructure

Maida also recalled the NCC’s advocacy for the recognition of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as critical national infrastructure within ECOWAS.

He noted that Nigeria has already designated ICT as part of its critical national information infrastructure, giving the sector strategic prominence needed for sustainable economic growth.

According to him, this recognition helps protect telecoms assets while ensuring policy continuity and investor confidence.

Liberia applauds Nigeria’s leadership

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Hon Clarence Massaquoi, commended the NCC for embracing regional coordination and regulatory collaboration.

He described the engagement as critical to strengthening regulatory responsibilities across West Africa.

Massaquoi acknowledged Nigeria’s position as the region’s largest economy, noting that policy and regulatory progress in Nigeria often has far-reaching effects on other West African countries.

Tackling cross-border roaming challenges

Massaquoi explained that since assuming office as Liberia’s chief telecoms regulator, the LTA has prioritised stronger ties with regional institutions to support ECOWAS’ integration agenda.

He said effective regional integration “cannot be achieved without affordable and reliable communications services,” particularly in addressing cross-border roaming challenges.

The LTA chairman disclosed that Liberia has already signed bilateral agreements with The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire.

He added that discussions are at advanced stages with Ghana and Guinea-Conakry, while reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to active participation in WATRA.

What’s next

The NCC assured the Liberian delegation of its readiness to support shared regional initiatives and to translate discussions into actionable outcomes.

Industry and public impact

For consumers, deeper cooperation could mean fewer dropped calls, cheaper roaming charges, and better internet quality when travelling across borders.

For businesses, it could unlock smoother digital payments, regional e-commerce growth, and more predictable regulatory environments.

For governments, stronger telecoms integration supports security coordination, economic data exchange, and digital public services.