Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested an Ivorian and a Nigerian medical doctor over their alleged involvement in cocaine trafficking.
The agency said the Ivorian suspect, Gohouri Michael, 41, was apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Northwest Nigeria, during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa.
According to a statement on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Gohouri was found to have ingested 82 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.49kg.
“Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan, Italy, on January 17, 2026, and was shuttling between Lagos and Enugu for three weeks. He later travelled to Kano, where he stayed for a week before ingesting the cocaine consignment in his hotel room.
“He is expected to be paid 5,000 euros when he delivers the drugs in Milan. Further investigation by the NDLEA revealed that Gohouri had a shadowy figure behind the scenes, giving him instructions on how to move the cocaine consignment through the airport,” the statement read.
Babafemi said further intelligence uncovered a suspected coordinator behind the operation, leading to the arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr Chudi Ofomata, in Ogun State.
He said NDLEA operatives tracked the doctor to his residence in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, where he was arrested on March 27, 2026.
“Further investigation by the NDLEA revealed that Gohouri had a shadowy figure behind the scenes, giving him instructions on how to move the cocaine consignment through the airport.
“The hidden figure behind Gohouri was eventually discovered to be Dr Chudi Ofomata, who was later tracked to his residence at Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, Obafemi Owode LGA, Ogun State, where he was arrested on March 27, 2026, and flown to Kano on Tuesday, April 7.
“Recovered from him at the point of arrest were 63 grams of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection,” the statement added.
The arrests were part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and their collaborators.
In another operation in Lagos, Babafemi said operatives intercepted a luxury bus belonging to Chisco Transport with registration number AGU 442 XB, recovering illicit drugs concealed within it.
“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Tuesday, April 7, intercepted a Chisco Transport luxury bus heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
“A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 15 kilograms of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis, concealed in one of the compartments of the bus. Two suspects, Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi, were promptly arrested,” he said.
The NDLEA also recorded multiple arrests and seizures across several states.
In Abia State, NDLEA operatives on April 7, 2026, arrested a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, at his residence in Osisioma Local Government Area.
According to him, a search of his home led to the recovery of 7.7 kilograms of skunk.
“The suspect claimed he had worked as a truck pusher, later learned painting and tiling, and eventually went into the illicit drug business over a year ago. He also claimed he had been smoking skunk since 1959 before turning it into a business,” Babafemi said.
In Ogun State, Babafemi said three suspects were arrested with 34 kilograms of skunk, while in Imo State, a 26-year-old woman was apprehended with 56.2 kilograms of the same substance.
In Niger State, he said a couple was arrested after 118 kilograms of skunk were recovered from their home.
“In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, April 9, arrested a couple, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and his wife, Adama Umar, 25, during a search of their Takuti village, Lapai LGA home, where 118 kilograms of skunk were recovered from their kitchen,” he said.
Similarly, in Borno State, operatives intercepted a trailer conveying large quantities of Rohypnol tablets, codeine syrup, and pentazocine injections, leading to the arrest of the consignment owner.
In a separate operation in Mushin, Lagos, Babafemi said officials seized 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup and arrested two individuals.
Source: Punch News
