A 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for allegedly attempting to traffic cocaine to Portugal.
Chukwulobelu was intercepted at the airport’s departure hall on Thursday, September 25, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect had ingested 72 wraps of cocaine which were concealed in his stomach. He was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled all 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug.
The agency said the suspect was wearing his wedding ring when he was arrested.
Chukwulobelu reportedly told investigators that he previously operated a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos, before relocating to Portugal in May 2023.
He had returned to Nigeria recently and got married on September 13, 2026.
According to the NDLEA, he said he resorted to the alleged drug trafficking in an attempt to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.
The arrest forms part of a wider series of operations announced by the NDLEA, including the seizure of 2.55 million opioid tablets weighing 1,640.55 kilogrammes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Tags: #NDLEA #Enugu #Cocaine #DrugTrafficking #AkanuIbiamAirport
