Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.80 kilogrammes of cocaine to Milan, Italy.
The suspect was arrested on September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, according to the agency.
The NDLEA said a search of his luggage led to the recovery of 16 parcels of a white powdery substance concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes. Another 195 wraps were allegedly hidden in the railings of four travelling bags.
The agency said the substances tested positive for cocaine, with a combined weight of 4.80kg.
During questioning, Tunde allegedly told investigators that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment hidden in the travelling bags was intended for delivery to his partner in Italy.
He reportedly claimed that the money used to purchase the cocaine came from compensation he received after sustaining an injury while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.
The airport interception was part of a wider series of operations in which the NDLEA said it seized consignments of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and codeine-based cough syrup worth more than N5 billion at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne ports.
At Apapa Port, Lagos, operatives recovered 124kg of Thai Loud valued at N372 million from a container originating from Bangkok, while at Onne Port, Rivers State, officers intercepted 22kg of Loud and 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg.
At the Tin Can Island Port, the agency also reported recovering 1,297.5kg of Canadian Loud from a watch-listed container shipped from Montreal, Canada. The consignment was valued at more than N3.8 billion, according to the NDLEA.
The NDLEA said its operations were based on intelligence gathering and tracking of suspected drug trafficking networks. The agency has not indicated that Tunde has been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against him remain subject to due legal process.
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