Businessman Arrested for Smuggling Cocaine to Portugal

Lovely Chukwulobelu, a 25-year-old businessman, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on September 25, 2026. He was allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine to Portugal while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight via Addis Ababa.

NDLEA officers discovered that Chukwulobelu had ingested the cocaine, and during observation, he expelled 72 wraps of the drug. Chukwulobelu previously operated a car decoration business around the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos, before relocating to Portugal in May 2023.

He had recently returned to Nigeria and married on September 13, 2026. He reportedly stated that his involvement in drug trafficking was an attempt to recover expenses incurred during his wedding.

The NDLEA has not disclosed the next steps in the legal proceedings against him, as they continue operations targeting drug trafficking through Nigeria’s airports.