A 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone emergency surgery to remove 57 out of 81 wraps of cocaine lodged in his stomach after carrying the illicit substance for seven days.
Igbokwe was apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan conducted on his arrival revealed the presence of illicit drugs in his system, leading to his immediate detention for excretion observation.
Failed Drug Trafficking Attempt
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, investigations revealed that Igbokwe, who claims to be a clothing trader at Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos, had departed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he ingested 81 wraps of cocaine before boarding a flight to Beirut, Lebanon. His mission was to deliver the consignment in exchange for a payment of $3,000.
However, upon arrival in Beirut, he was denied entry due to insufficient funds, as Lebanon’s entry requirement mandates a minimum of $2,000. Subsequently, he was deported back to Addis Ababa, where he attempted to excrete the drugs but failed. With the illicit substance still in his system, he boarded a flight to Lagos on January 25, 2025.
Medical Emergency and Life-Saving Surgery
NDLEA officers arrested him on January 26 upon his arrival in Lagos. He was placed under excretion observation for five days but was only able to expel 24 pellets despite medical intervention at the agency’s facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
As time ran out and his condition worsened due to underlying health complications, Igbokwe was admitted to a specialized medical facility, where doctors performed an exploratory laparotomy to extract the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine.
Authorities continue to investigate the case as NDLEA intensifies efforts against drug trafficking in the country.
