NDLEA Arrests Businessman Post-Surgery to Remove 57 Cocaine Pellets: A Shocking Drug Smuggling Case

NDLEA Arrests Businessman Post-Surgery to Remove 57 Cocaine Pellets: A Shocking Drug Smuggling Case



LAGOS, NIGERIA - In a dramatic turn of events, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, after he underwent emergency surgery to remove 57 cocaine pellets from his stomach. The surgery, an exploratory laparotomy, was performed at a tertiary hospital in Lagos after Igbokwe struggled for days to expel the illicit drugs he had ingested in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A Smuggling Scheme Gone Wrong


Igbokwe, who claims to be a clothing trader in Lagos, was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on January 26, 2025, during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan conducted by NDLEA officers confirmed the presence of the drugs in his system, leading to his detention for excretion observation.

Investigations revealed that Igbokwe had traveled to Addis Ababa on January 22, where he ingested 81 wraps of cocaine on January 23 before attempting to smuggle them to Beirut, Lebanon, for a promised fee of $3,000. However, Lebanese authorities denied him entry due to insufficient funds, and he was deported back to Addis Ababa. Struggling to excrete the drugs, Igbokwe returned to Lagos on January 25, where he was arrested upon arrival.





Medical Emergency

After five days of excretion observation, Igbokwe managed to expel only 24 pellets with initial medical intervention at the NDLEA medical facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). With complications arising from underlying medical conditions, doctors decided to perform surgery to remove the remaining 57 pellets. His wife and brother signed the necessary consent forms for the procedure on January 30.

In total, authorities recovered 81 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.943 kilograms, from Igbokwe's stomach. This case highlights the lengths to which drug traffickers will go to smuggle illicit substances and the vigilance required to intercept such activities.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the officers for their professionalism and vigilance in handling Igbokwe's case. He also emphasized the importance of ongoing sensitization efforts to curb drug abuse and trafficking in communities nationwide.


As the NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the agency remains committed to intercepting drug shipments and raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. The recent arrest and successful surgery underscore the agency's dedication to protecting society from the scourge of drug trafficking.

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