NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman over 3.3kg cocaine bound for UK

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 3.30 kilograms of cocaine to the United Kingdom. The illicit substance was discovered concealed within the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs.

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A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United kingdom.

Chinedu, who reportedly trades clothing in the Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026. The interception of the cocaine shipment occurred a day earlier at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Initially, three cargo agents involved in handling the consignment were arrested, which subsequently led to the apprehension of Kenneth Okakpu, the individual who delivered the package to the agents.

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Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday 23rd July 2026 following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.

According to a statement by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Okakpu's arrest provided crucial intelligence that identified Onuigbo as the alleged kingpin orchestrating the drug smuggling operation. Authorities eventually arrested Onuigbo as he was reportedly preparing to send another cocaine consignment to the UK.

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In the course of investigation, three cargo agents: Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment were initially arrested leading to the arrest Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.

In a separate operation, NDLEA agents arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo following the seizure of 2.80kg of 'Loud,' a synthetic strain of cannabis. Her consignment had arrived from the United States on a United Airlines flight. Additionally, at the Lagos airport, operatives recovered 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over ₦2.2 billion on the streets, from a shipment originating from India.

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Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventually arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.