Businessman nabbed with cocaine hidden in towels from Brazil at Lagos airport

A 41-year-old Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, has been arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for importing shirts and towels impregnated with 6.10 kilograms of cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria.

The businessman was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa in Ethiopia aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday, said a thorough search of the businessman’s luggage led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, all soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well ironed.

Babafemi said the suspect, in his statement, disclosed that he has lived for over 14 years in Brazil where he runs an African restaurant.

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Ikechukwu added that he was in Nigeria to see his wife and buy food stuff in bulk for his restaurant.

Babafemi further stated that the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others, in the past week.

The NDLEA spokesman listed the activities to include WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Government Science School, Lafia, Nasarawa State; Community Secondary School, Imufu, Enugu Ezike, Enugu State; Araromi Junior Secondary School, Adekunle Sari-Iganmu, Ijora, Lagos State; traditional leaders in Minjibir LGA, Kano State; and St. Charles College, Onitsha, Anambra State.