The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine in an attempt to traffic the drug to Europe.

Cyril was arrested at the departure hall of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Sunday, August 2, during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.

Babafemi said investigations revealed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and ingested the drugs at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.

The suspect reportedly admitted agreeing to traffic the consignment for €3,500, saying he intended to use the money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives also foiled an attempt by suspected drug traffickers to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed inside 25 phone chargers to Saudi Arabia.

Babafemi said the consignment was intercepted at a courier company in Lagos, while another attempt to export 500 grammes of cocaine to Italy was also thwarted at a separate logistics company.

The 500 grammes of cocaine, according to the agency, had been concealed in the false bottom of a backpack and was intercepted on Monday, August 3.

The agency further intercepted 2.3kg of Loud, a strain of cannabis, in a shipment originating from the United States at another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck heading towards northern Nigeria with 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice chaff.

The interception was made on Tuesday, August 4, while two suspects, 40-year-old Buba Jamilu and 30-year-old Sanusi Ibrahim, were arrested in connection with the consignment.

In another operation, NDLEA officers recovered 147kg of skunk from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid on Monday, August 3.

In Oyo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse at Elebure village in Orire Local Government Area on Monday, recovering 731.03kg of cannabis.

A 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while the agency said her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, was at large.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 604.5kg of skunk during a raid at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area on Wednesday, August 5.

The consignment was contained in 65 jumbo bags, according to the agency.

In Abia State, operatives arrested 31-year-old Chibuike Charles, described by the agency as a suspected drug joint operator, during a raid at Samec by Powerline Base in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6.

The operation resulted in the seizure of 7kg of skunk.

The agency also announced the arrest of a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry, Lagos, on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt.

NDLEA said 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from Sikuru at the time of his arrest.

At the Tin Can Island Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, intercepted a consignment containing cannabis-infused confectioneries.

The agency said 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies, weighing 309.4kg, were discovered during a joint examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4.

A suspect identified as Larry Nnaji was arrested in connection with the seizure.

The NDLEA said the arrests and seizures were part of its nationwide operations aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks, intercepting illicit consignments and taking suspects involved in the production, transportation and distribution of controlled substances into custody.