The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of two Brazil returnees who were caught at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after excreting a combined total of 116 wraps of heroin and cocaine they had ingested for trafficking.
The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, in Abuja.
First Arrest: 111 Wraps of Heroin
The first suspect, identified as Ofoma, was arrested on Tuesday, September 16 at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport upon his arrival from Laos, Brazil, via an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Following a body scan, operatives confirmed that the suspect had ingested illicit drugs. He was placed under excretion observation and subsequently expelled 111 wraps of heroin, weighing 1.452 kilograms, across eight excretion sessions.
According to Babafemi, the suspect had left Nigeria for Brazil on September 3 to courier the heroin to Lagos for a promised payment of $2,500.
“A swift follow-up operation was conducted at Eliata Hotel in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, where Ofoma was instructed to meet Nweke Chuckwudi, the person designated to oversee the excretion and collection of the drugs,” Babafemi said.
Nweke, a 55-year-old accomplice, was arrested at the hotel during the recovery attempt.
Second Arrest: Cocaine Concealed via Anal Insertion
In a similar operation, NDLEA operatives apprehended another Brazil returnee on Friday, September 19, also arriving via Ethiopian Airlines from Brazil through Addis Ababa.
A body scan revealed the presence of foreign objects in his body, and he was placed under observation. The suspect later excreted five large wraps of cocaine, weighing 145 grams.
In his confession, the suspect disclosed that he had purchased nine wraps of cocaine in Brazil and inserted them into his anus, a process he said took nearly two hours.
However, while in transit in Addis Ababa, he experienced severe anal pain and removed two wraps, which he flushed in a toilet. He was only able to reinsert seven wraps before continuing his journey to Nigeria.
“While onboard the flight to Lagos, the suspect experienced discomfort and had to use the lavatory, where he expelled two additional wraps, leaving only five wraps still inside him upon arrival,” Babafemi stated.
Background of the Suspects
- Ofoma was reportedly recruited in Nigeria to courier heroin from Brazil to Lagos.
- The second suspect claimed to be a former clothing trader, who:
- Migrated to Brazil in 2017
- Was later deported from the United States in 2022 for immigration offences
- Returned to Brazil in March 2025 and had obtained Brazilian residence status
NDLEA’s Position
The NDLEA continues to intensify its crackdown on drug trafficking through Nigeria’s international airports. These latest arrests, particularly of Brazil returnees arrested with drugs at Lagos airport, reflect the agency’s proactive surveillance and cross-border intelligence cooperation.
“The Agency remains committed to dismantling trafficking networks and bringing offenders to justice, regardless of how sophisticated their concealment methods may be,” Babafemi said.
Conclusion
As Nigeria remains a major transit hub in the global drug trade, the NDLEA’s efforts are critical in protecting national security and public health. The recent seizures at MMIA are not just arrests — they are a warning to drug syndicates that the agency is watching and prepared.
