NDLEA nabs businessman with 256 cocaine wraps at Kano airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, a businessman, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano State.

The suspect, who is involved in import and export activities, was arrested on Sunday, December 15, 2024, with 256 wraps of cocaine weighing 6 kilograms.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesman, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Sunday. Babafemi noted that the seizure marks the largest cocaine interception at the Kano airport since the establishment of the MAKIA Command in 2006.

“The drugs were discovered during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, December 15, 2024,” the statement read. “Olisaka, who claims to be an importer and exporter, was subjected to body screening, which revealed that he had concealed hundreds of cocaine pellets in his body.”

In a separate operation, the NDLEA also thwarted an attempt by ex-convict Olanrewaju Bada Akorede to smuggle Rohypnol into South Africa. Akorede was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, where the drugs were hidden inside a cargo shipment containing gari, shoes, men’s singlets, and other items.

Akorede, who had been convicted earlier in 2023 for attempting to export 4.90 kg of tramadol and 2.10 kg of Rohypnol to South Africa, was sentenced to two years in prison but paid a N900,000 fine and was released. However, he returned to commit the same offense, attempting to smuggle drugs once again.

Additionally, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, NDLEA officers arrested Cynthia Akaeen, an Italy-based businesswoman, at the Lagos airport. Akaeen, who was attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy via Addis Ababa, was caught during an outward clearance at Terminal 2.

A total of 9,190 tablets of various brands of tramadol, weighing 6.00 kg, were recovered from her. According to the suspect, she was promised 1,000 Euros for successfully delivering the drugs to Italy.

Babafemi further emphasized that the NDLEA remains committed to its mission of combating drug trafficking and will continue to work tirelessly to protect the public from the dangers posed by illicit substances.