74-Year-Old Man Arrested with Cocaine at Abuja Airport

On March 14, 2026, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, a 74-year-old man, was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He was attempting to board a British Airways flight to Heathrow, London, when 11 kilograms of cocaine were discovered concealed within food items, specifically ground dry pepper, wrapped in foil paper and balloons.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, reported that this operation was part of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking. The arrest occurred following credible intelligence received by NDLEA operatives.

In a related incident, on March 9, 2026, a woman named Maryam Olalowo was arrested for attempting to sell cocaine and cannabis in Lagos. The NDLEA continues to conduct operations to intercept drug trafficking activities across Nigeria.