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), Enugu, for attempting to traffic 72 wraps of cocaine which he ingested, to Portugal where he resides.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The groom was intercepted by NDLEA officers at the departure hall of the Enugu airport on Thursday 25th September 2026, with cocaine in his gut and wedding ring on his finger, while he attempted to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Portugal via Addis Ababa.
“He was subsequently placed under excretion observation during which he egested a total of 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug,” Babafemi said.
The suspect, who claimed he was into car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos before he relocated to Portugal in May 2023, said he returned to Nigeria recently to get married on 13th September 2026.
He said he resorted to the criminal trade to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.
While commending the officers and men of the agency, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
