ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Nigerian medical doctor and an Ivorian national over their alleged involvement in a cocaine trafficking network, as the agency intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drug operations.
The NDLEA said the Ivorian suspect, Gohouri Michael, 41, was apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa.
According to a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was found to have ingested 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes.
“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.
The agency said intelligence tracking later uncovered the alleged coordinator of the operation, leading to the arrest of 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr Chudi Ofomata, in Ogun State.
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Babafemi disclosed that the suspect was tracked to his residence at Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, where he was arrested on March 27, 2026, before being flown to Kano on April 7.
“The hidden figure behind Gohouri was eventually discovered to be Dr Chudi Ofomata, who was later tracked to his residence where he was arrested,” he said.
“Recovered from him at the point of arrest were 63 grammes of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection,” the statement added.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted a luxury bus belonging to Chisco Transport along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, recovering 15 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in one of its compartments.
“Operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a Chisco Transport luxury bus heading to Port Harcourt. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 15 kilogrammes of skunk. Two suspects, Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi, were promptly arrested,” Babafemi said.
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The agency also recorded multiple arrests and seizures across the country.
In Abia State, a 90-year-old suspect, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was arrested in Osisioma Local Government Area with 7.7 kilogrammes 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 stated.
In Ogun State, three suspects were arrested with 34 kilogrammes of skunk, while in Imo State, a 26-year-old woman was apprehended with 56.2 kilogrammes of the substance.
In Niger State, a couple, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and his wife, Adama Umar, 25, were arrested after 118 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from their home in Takuti village, Lapai Local Government Area.
“In Niger State a search of their home led to the recovery of 118 kilogrammes of skunk from their kitchen,” Babafemi 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 another raid in Mushin, Lagos, NDLEA officials seized 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup and arrested two suspects.
The agency said the operations formed part of its ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and their collaborators across the country.