OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu, for attempting to traffic 72 wraps of cocaine which he ingested, to Portugal, where he resides.
NDLEA, in a statement by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, September 27, said Chukwulobelu was intercepted by officers at the departure hall of the airport on Thursday, September 25, with cocaine in his gut and wedding ring on his finger, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Portugal, via Addis Ababa.
The statement disclosed that the suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he egested a total of 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug.
NDLEA explained that the suspect, who claimed to be into car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo area of Lagos State before he relocated to Portugal in May 2023.
Babafemi said Chukwulobelu further claimed that he returned to Nigeria recently to get married on September 213, and resorted to the criminal trade to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.
