Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 74-year-old man identified as Emeka Ikwuakalom at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after discovering a large quantity of cocaine in his luggage.
According to officials, Ikwuakalom was preparing to board a flight to the United Kingdom when security officers intercepted him during routine screening procedures. A search of his luggage reportedly uncovered 11 kilograms of cocaine, a highly controlled narcotic substance.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly claimed that the bag containing the drugs had been handed to him by an unidentified individual, along with a destination address in the United Kingdom where he was instructed to deliver it.
The NDLEA has since taken Ikwuakalom into custody and formally booked him under Nigeria’s drug control enforcement laws.
Authorities say he is expected to be charged in court as investigations continue into the wider network that may be behind the attempted trafficking operation.
Drug trafficking remains a major concern for Nigerian authorities, particularly through international airports, which are frequently targeted by criminal networks attempting to smuggle narcotics to Europe and other destinations.
The agency has repeatedly warned that trafficking syndicates often recruit vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, in an attempt to avoid suspicion during airport checks.
Investigators say further inquiries are ongoing to identify the individuals who allegedly supplied the drugs and organized the operation.
