By Wellington Jopelo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a former convict and three other suspects over an attempt to export cocaine hidden inside liquid starch sachets to the United Kingdom.
The agency said the drug consignment, made up of 75 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilogrammes, was intercepted at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
NDLEA confirmed that the suspects include an ex-convict, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, and three cargo agents linked to the shipment.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the cocaine was discovered inside factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets meant for export.
He said three cargo agents — Jubrin Hassana, Kuku Oluwasegun and Igwe Jane — were arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, after the drugs were uncovered.
Further investigation later led to the arrest of Nwobodo, aged 37, who was identified as the mastermind behind the shipment.
“A notorious drug trafficker, Nwobodo Basil, previously convicted of dealing in 30.10kg of methamphetamine in 2023, has again been arrested following the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine concealed in sachets of cold-water starch heading to the United Kingdom,” the statement said.
Babafemi explained that Nwobodo was arrested the next day at a relaxation centre in Ikeja, where he had gone to meet his girlfriend.
“He was earlier convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of a ₦7m fine, which he paid, before returning to drug trafficking,” he added.
The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that a 65-year-old driver was arrested in Gombe State while transporting large quantities of pentazocine injections and tramadol pills along the Gombe–Biu highway.
In a related operation, a Lagos-based businessman, Ignatius Egbochie, also known as “Brown,” was arrested over a previous seizure of 26kg of cannabis concealed in a container at the Tincan Port.
Babafemi said the cannabis was recovered during a joint inspection by NDLEA and other security agencies, while the suspect was later tracked and arrested in Apapa.
He added that NDLEA operatives also destroyed cannabis warehouses and seized large quantities of illicit drugs in Ekiti, Edo, Cross River, Abuja, Lagos and Taraba states between December 21 and 25, 2025, with several suspects arrested.
The agency said investigations into all the cases are ongoing.