The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Ezeokoli Sylva, a 59-year-old businessman, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 700 grams of cocaine concealed in his stomach.
Ezeokoli was returning to Nigeria after 35 years in Brazil.
The suspect, who returned from São Paulo, Brazil, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on 29th November 2024, expelled 29 wraps of cocaine during excretion observation after a body scan revealed the hidden substances.
NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday said the 59-year-old Ezeokoli was arrested on Friday 29th November 2024 at the E-Arrival hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Ethiopia Airlines flight via Addis Ababa.
“When he was taken for body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach. As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 700grams.
“In his statement, the suspect claimed he operates an African store in Brazil where he sells provisions, shoes and clothes. He added that he bought the illicit consignment in Sao Paulo to resell in Nigeria with a view to raising substantial capital to boost his business,” Babafemi said.
