Nigeria’s anti-drug agency has arrested a 74-year-old man attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine through Abuja’s international airport, as part of a wider crackdown that also uncovered nearly 340,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Lagos’ Apapa seaport.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the suspect, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was detained at the departure hall of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while trying to board a British Airways flight to London on Saturday.

Officers said the cocaine was hidden inside food items in his luggage.

“Blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms were discovered concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons,” the agency said in a statement.

Airport drug bust

NDLEA said the septuagenarian claimed he was travelling to the United Kingdom for a vacation when officers intercepted him during routine checks.

The drugs were allegedly disguised to avoid detection during airport screening.

Authorities say the arrest highlights continued attempts by traffickers to move narcotics through Nigeria’s international airports.

Drug enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that organised networks often recruit unsuspecting or vulnerable couriers, including elderly people, to evade suspicion.

Lagos raids uncover cocaine and cannabis

In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested Maryam Olalowo at a hotel in Victoria Island.

She was allegedly caught attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of “Canadian Loud”, a strain of cannabis.

Officials said she was with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest.

Investigators later detained her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who allegedly admitted the drugs belonged to him.

According to NDLEA, records show he had previously been arrested, convicted and jailed for two and a half years in 2015 for a similar offence.

Major opioid seizure at Apapa port

One of the largest discoveries during the week came at Apapa seaport in Lagos, where authorities intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup hidden in two containers.

The shipment was uncovered during a joint inspection by NDLEA officers, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

Officials said the containers had been placed on a watch list after intelligence reports suggested opioids were concealed inside.

Codeine abuse has been a major public health concern in Nigeria, especially among young people.

The government banned the importation of codeine-based cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse.

Arrests in Lagos Island, Kano, Abuja and Edo

Further operations across the country resulted in several arrests and seizures.

In Lagos Island, NDLEA operatives arrested Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim with 68,000 tramadol pills, which authorities say were being prepared for transport to neighbouring Benin Republic.

Follow-up raids in Idumota market led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, who allegedly owned the consignment.

Another suspect, Nwanosike Kelvin, was arrested with 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injections during a separate raid.

Elsewhere:

Kano State: Officers arrested Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, with 386kg of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis.

Abuja (FCT): Authorities seized 282.2kg of skunk from suspect Isah Wako in Gwagwalada.

Edo State: NDLEA agents destroyed over 4,218kg of skunk on farms in the Egwa forest reserve and arrested Chinedo Odalonu, 33.

Why it matters

Drug trafficking remains a major security and public health issue in Nigeria.

Large quantities of opioids and cannabis continue to move through major cities and ports, often linked to cross-border trafficking networks.

Experts warn that rising abuse of prescription opioids such as tramadol and codeine has become a serious social problem, particularly among young people.

The NDLEA says enforcement and public education are key to tackling the crisis.

NDLEA expands anti-drug awareness campaigns

Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued nationwide.

Recent awareness programmes were held in schools across several states, including Nasarawa, Oyo, Delta, Cross River and Edo.

NDLEA officers also paid an advocacy visit to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, as part of efforts to expand anti-drug partnerships.

Marwa commends officers

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) praised officers involved in the recent operations.

“He commended the officers and men of NAIA, Lagos, Kano, Edo and FCT Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week,” the agency said.

Marwa also encouraged commanders nationwide to maintain a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction, including prevention and public education.

What’s next

Authorities say investigations into the suspects and seized consignments are ongoing.

NDLEA officials say further arrests may follow as they track supply networks linked to the intercepted drugs.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has denied allegations of bribery and unlawful detention published by SaharaReporters.

Officials say the reports misrepresented two investigations involving alleged fraud and impersonation in Abuja.

The NSCDC Federal Capital Territory Command said both suspects referenced in the reports were held under lawful court orders while investigations continued.

At a press briefing in Abuja, the Commandant of the FCT Command said the agency responded publicly to prevent misinformation from damaging confidence in the security institution.

“The allegations contained in the said publication are entirely baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to misrepresent facts for sensational purposes,” the Commandant said.

He added that the command operates strictly within the law and does not charge money for bail.

“We are a credible institution with zero tolerance for corruption and no amount of money is charged for bail under any guise.”

Alleged fake NYSC member arrested

According to the command, one of the suspects mentioned in the report, Joseph Nanmwa Philips, 27, from Plateau State, allegedly impersonated a member of the National Youth Service Corps.

Investigators say he forged a NYSC call-up letter to obtain placement at the International Model Science Academy in Kwali.

Officials said complaints were filed against him for alleged forgery, hacking and impersonation involving the leadership of the National Mathematical Centre.

“The self-acclaimed NYSC member was arrested by our Kwali Division following complaints bordering on forgery, hacking and impersonation,” the command said.

Authorities said he was arrested on 6 February and transferred to the FCT Command headquarters three days later for further investigation.

The suspect was granted bail on the same day but could not meet the conditions, according to the command.

Officials said they subsequently obtained a remand order from a Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2.

Alleged scholarship fraud

Investigators say the suspect allegedly ran a scheme promising parents Cambridge University scholarships for their children.

According to the command, he cloned university email addresses to send fake confirmation messages to parents.

Officials say he collected money for scholarship registration, textbooks and extra lesson teachers.

“Our investigation revealed that the sum of ₦1.3 million had been fraudulently collected from different parents,” the command said.

Seven parents have reportedly come forward with complaints.

Items recovered from the suspect allegedly include a NYSC uniform, forged documents and records of financial transactions.

Dispute over detention of 69-year-old man

The command also rejected another report claiming it detained a 69-year-old man for 89 days and demanded ₦10 million for his release.

Officials said the case originated from a complaint by a company, TroBell Minerals Ltd, over an alleged ₦217 million fraud.

The suspect was later charged before the Federal High Court, according to the agency.

“Contrary to the claims in the publication, the suspect was not detained for 89 days as alleged,” the command said.

“His custody was carried out in line with the law and pursuant to a valid remand order issued by a competent court.”

The agency also dismissed claims that suspects paid money to obtain bail.

“The allegation that officers demanded a ‘Commandant’s fee’ is entirely false and unfounded.”

Why this case matters

The controversy highlights wider debates about transparency, media reporting and the treatment of suspects by security agencies in Nigeria.

Human rights advocates frequently raise concerns about prolonged detention without trial when suspects cannot meet bail conditions.

Security agencies, however, say court-approved remand orders allow suspects to remain in custody while investigations continue.

Legal analysts say such disputes underline the need for accurate reporting and open communication between institutions and the media.

NSCDC warns organisations

The civil defence agency also warned institutions to verify the identity of individuals claiming to be NYSC members before offering placements.

Officials said the alleged impersonation case demonstrates how forged documents can be used to gain access to organisations.

“If someone could succeed in getting placement as a corps member with fake documents for almost a year, it means others may still be operating undetected,” the Commandant said.

What happens next

Both cases are expected to proceed through the courts.

The NSCDC says evidence gathered during the investigations will be presented during prosecution.

Officials also said the command may consider legal action against individuals or platforms publishing what it described as misleading information.

Police in south-west Nigeria say they have arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered a gun, several mobile phones and cash during a patrol operation in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

The operation, carried out by the Nigeria Police Force through the Oyo State Police Command, followed a stop-and-search patrol in the General Gas area of Akobo.

Authorities say the arrest highlights the role of intelligence-led policing in tackling crime across the state.

How the suspect was arrested

Police say patrol officers intercepted a motorcyclist who attempted to flee when he noticed them.

He was later identified as Abiodun Adeyemi Michael, a suspect reportedly known to security operatives.

According to police, the suspect had been on their radar and allegedly operated along the borders of Lagos State, Ogun State and Oyo State.

A search reportedly led to the recovery of a Magnum pump-action gun with six live cartridges, along with multiple phones and other items believed to have been stolen.

Among the recovered items were several iPhones, Tecno devices, Redmi phones, a Samsung Galaxy S10, a Wi-Fi device, wristwatches and ₦130,000 in cash.

Further arrests

Police say the suspect later told investigators he carried out robberies with three accomplices.

The gang allegedly targeted victims around the Toll Gate and Egbeda areas of Ibadan, robbing people at gunpoint.

Acting on the information, officers from the command’s monitoring unit and the Akobo division carried out another operation at Access Hotel in the Sawmill area of Iwo Road.

Two more suspects — Olaoluwa Pamole and Ahmed Ismail — were arrested during the raid.

Police say a third suspect, identified only as Lamidi, is currently on the run.

What police say

In a statement, police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka said the suspects had also admitted involvement in car theft.

He said the gang allegedly snatched a Honda car in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

The state police commissioner, Femi Haruna, has ordered a full investigation.

Police said the case would be transferred to the command monitoring unit for further investigation and prosecution.

The commissioner also directed officers to track down the fleeing suspect.

Why it matters

Robbery attacks in urban areas remain a major security concern for residents in parts of Nigeria.

Security analysts say proactive patrols and intelligence-driven policing can help reduce street crimes such as phone snatching and armed robbery.

Residents in areas like Egbeda and Akobo often rely on police visibility and rapid response to deter criminal activity.

What happens next

Police say investigations are ongoing and the suspects will face prosecution after the inquiry is completed.

Authorities also urged members of the public who recently lost valuables during robberies in the Egbeda and Toll Gate areas to contact the police.

Recovered items will be released to verified owners.

Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity through the Oyo State emergency response numbers.