The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu for allegedly attempting to traffic cocaine to Portugal.

The suspect, who resides in Portugal, was arrested at the airport’s departure hall on September 25 while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa.

According to the NDLEA, Chukwulobelu had 72 wraps of cocaine concealed in his stomach when he was intercepted by operatives.

He was subsequently placed under observation to enable the agency monitor the excretion of the suspected drug, during which he expelled all 72 wraps.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that he had returned to Nigeria recently and got married on September 13.

He allegedly said he became involved in drug trafficking to raise money to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.

Chukwulobelu also reportedly disclosed that he previously operated a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex area of Ojo in Lagos before relocating to Portugal in May 2023.

The NDLEA said the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue into the alleged drug trafficking offence.

In a separate operation at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, operatives recovered 2,550,000 pills of Tramakings and Royal Tapentadol, weighing 1,640.55 kilogrammes.

The drugs were discovered during the examination of three consignments imported from India and Bangladesh through Qatar Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.

In Bauchi State, two suspects were arrested with 300 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 262.5 kilogrammes.

The agency also reported the destruction of two cannabis farms in Edo State with an estimated combined yield of 1,360.23 kilogrammes.

In Lagos, two women were arrested with 3.4 kilogrammes of cannabis, while another suspect was intercepted with cannabis and various pharmaceutical substances.

Two Togolese nationals were also arrested in Oyo State with 305.6 kilogrammes of cannabis allegedly sourced from Ghana and brought into Nigeria through the Oyo axis.

At the Seme border in Lagos, five suspects were arrested with 420 cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, weighing 1,688.4 kilogrammes.

The NDLEA said investigations and prosecution processes would continue in the various cases as the agency sustains its operations against illicit drug trafficking across the country.