NDLEA intercepts Brazilian lady with N3b heroin in coffee packs at Abuja airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian national, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for attempting to smuggle 30.09 kilograms of white heroin, valued at over ₦3 billion, into Nigeria.

The suspect was apprehended on Friday, January 23, 2026, upon her arrival from Brazil aboard a Qatar Airways flight QR1431, following actionable intelligence received by the Agency. A thorough search of her two checked-in bags led to the discovery of 21 factory-sealed coffee packs, which were later confirmed to contain heroin instead of coffee.

According to NDLEA officials, laboratory analysis showed that the white substances concealed in the coffee packs tested positive for heroin, with a combined weight of 30.09 kilograms, making it the largest single heroin seizure ever recorded at the Abuja airport. During preliminary interrogation, the suspect, who works as a private security officer in Brazil, claimed she brought the consignment under the guise of visiting Nigeria for holidays.

The arrest formed part of a broader nationwide crackdown by the NDLEA, which recorded multiple high-profile interceptions and arrests across several states during the past week.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, January 20, intercepted two passengers, Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko, who were travelling to Istanbul, Turkey, on a Turkish Airlines flight. The suspects were found with 3,990 pills of tapentadol 250mg and tramaking 225mg, concealed inside food items packed in their luggage.

In another major operation, operatives of the Marine Command of the NDLEA intercepted a wooden boat at Jakande Beach, Lekki, Lagos, in the early hours of Thursday, January 22. The boat was loaded with 44 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud cannabis, weighing a total of 1,848 kilograms. The shipment had reportedly just arrived from Ghana when NDLEA officers, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the area around 1:00 a.m., recovered the consignment, and seized the boat.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Kaduna and Kano States arrested Aminu Ali Baba (20) and Abdulrasheed Abubakar (28) on Friday, January 23, in connection with the seizure of two bags containing 140 packets of explosives destined for Kano and Kaduna. The explosives were intercepted from a commercial bus along the Kaduna–Zaria Highway, Zaria. Follow-up operations led to the arrest of Aminu Ali Baba at Karota Park, Kano, and Abdulrasheed Abubakar at Mando Park, Kaduna.

An intelligence-led raid carried out at Kwangila, Zaria LGA, Kaduna State, on Thursday, January 22, resulted in the arrest of Fatima Ibrahim (42) and Adejimoh Ismaila (44), with 120 kilograms of skunk recovered from them.

In Borno State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, January 21, intercepted 179,590 pills of tramadol and diazepam, concealed in sacks of charcoal and animal feed aboard a public transport vehicle coming from Potiskum, Yobe State. A follow-up operation at Bulabulin, Maiduguri, led to the arrest of the vehicle owner, Rabiu Imam (32).

Similarly, NDLEA officers arrested Mrs. Eze Cynthia Chioma in Mokwa, Niger State, on Friday, January 23, following the seizure of her consignment of 78,500 tramadol pills earlier the same day at Bode Saadu, Kwara State, from a truck coming from Lagos. Investigations revealed that her husband, currently remanded in prison, had been arrested last year for a similar drug trafficking offence.

In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, January 24, arrested Afolalu Joseph (72) at his residence on Aramoko Road, Ilawe-Ekiti, and Abu Bunmi, also known as Go Slow (45), at Erijinyan Road, Ilawe-Ekiti, for illicit drug dealing. A total of 62 kilograms of skunk was recovered from the suspects.

In Edo State, a village head, Chief James Abamu, and another suspect, Aboy Egah Abamu, were taken into custody after being handed over to NDLEA by soldiers of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade, Benin City, following a raid at Lagos Camp, Ilushi, in Esan South-East LGA, where 681 kilograms of skunk and 181 kilograms of cannabis seeds were recovered on Wednesday, January 21.

Further arrests were recorded across several states. In Kano, NDLEA officers arrested Abba Hassan, Anas Moh’d Auwal, and Sadik Ismail at Sabon Gari on Tuesday, January 20, with 1,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection. In Oyo State, Olajumoke Ridwan and Baruwa Ibukun were arrested at Paris Lounge, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Thursday, January 22, with 181.5 litres of skuchies, a mixture of skunk and other illicit substances.

In Benue State, a female suspect, Janet Iornongu, was arrested at Yes Ikyuan Village, Guma LGA, with 210 kilograms of skunk, while 254.5 kilograms of the same substance was seized from Anita Job along the Abaji–Toto Road, FCT, on Thursday, January 22.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Monday, January 19, recovered 39,800 pills of tramadol 225mg from two suspects, Hamisu Misbahu and Chima Obi, at Alaba Rago, Mile 2.

In Delta State, NDLEA officers seized 30,003 pills of tramadol, molly, and other opioids, as well as 20 litres of codeine syrup, from Chinyecherem Cyprian Ugwu along Sapele Road, Warri, on Thursday, January 22. Likewise, Kayode Obameye (57) was arrested at Mobil Roundabout, Akure, Ondo State, on Friday, January 23, with 1,500 kilograms of skunk recovered from him.

Across all commands and formations nationwide, the NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities during the week under review.

The Agency reiterated its commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and preventing illicit drugs from fueling crime, insecurity, and public health challenges across Nigeria.