The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former convict and three cargo agents following the interception of a consignment of cocaine concealed in liquid starch sachets and bound for the United Kingdom.
The suspects were apprehended after NDLEA operatives uncovered the illicit drugs at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, during routine screening of outbound cargo.
According to the agency, the seized consignment contained 75 parcels of cocaine weighing a total of 1.50 kilograms, ingeniously hidden inside factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets in an attempt to evade detection.
The three cargo agents — Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun and Igwe Chioma Jane — were arrested on December 20, 2025, while processing the shipment for export. Further investigation led to the arrest of the alleged mastermind, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, a 37-year-old ex-convict, the following day at a relaxation centre in Ikeja.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrests in a statement, describing the concealment method as another example of the evolving tactics employed by drug traffickers.
Babafemi revealed that Basil had previously been convicted in 2023 for trafficking over 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, for which he served a prison sentence after paying a fine. He noted that the suspect’s return to drug trafficking highlights the persistent challenge faced by law enforcement agencies.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to intensifying surveillance at Nigeria’s ports and airports to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent the country from being used as a transit hub for illicit substances.
Investigations into the drug syndicate are ongoing, while the suspects are expected to be charged to court upon completion of the probe.