The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 38-year-old Nigerian businessman, Philip Tunde, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, alleging he attempted to smuggle 4.80 kilograms of cocaine to Italy. The agency stated that Tunde funded the purchase using compensation he received after losing the tips of two fingers in a workplace accident at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy.
Arrest at Lagos Airport and Seizure Details
NDLEA operatives intercepted Tunde on Sunday, 27 September, at the joint screening point in Terminal 2 of the airport, as he prepared to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan. A search of his luggage uncovered 16 parcels of a white powdery substance hidden in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, along with 195 additional wraps concealed in the railings of four travel bags. The substance tested positive for cocaine, with a combined weight of 4.80 kilograms.
During questioning, Tunde reportedly told operatives he had paid 16 million naira in cash for the drugs hidden in the shoes, while the consignment in the bags was intended for delivery to a partner already in Italy. He said the money came from compensation he received after losing the tips of two fingers in an accident at a plastic manufacturing company where he previously worked in Italy.
Broader Week of NDLEA Operations
The arrest was part of a broader week of operations announced by the NDLEA, which also recorded several other major seizures across the country. At the Apapa, Tincan Island and Onne seaports, operatives intercepted container shipments of a potent cannabis strain known as "Loud" and codeine-based cough syrup, together valued at over 5 billion naira, following months of surveillance on the shipments' movement from their countries of origin.
In Osun State, more than 20,000 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed after a farm raid in Ife South, while separate arrests were made in Plateau, Lagos, Kogi and Edo states involving tramadol, methamphetamine, and other cannabis-based substances. A long-wanted fugitive, Idris Mohammed Kurra, was also rearrested in Jos after evading capture for six years following a 2020 bail jump connected to a previous drug case.
NDLEA Chairman's Commendation and Call for Continued Action
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers involved across the various commands and urged continued intelligence-led operations against drug trafficking networks nationwide. The agency's statements underscore the ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking through Nigerian borders and within the country, with a focus on intelligence-driven enforcement.
