The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a businessman with cocaine at Lagos airport. Philip Tunde, 38, was caught on 27 September 2026. He was boarding a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy. Officers found 4.80 kilogrammes of cocaine. The drug was hidden in the soles of eight pairs of shoes. It was also hidden in the railings of four travelling bags. In total, 16 parcels and 195 wraps were recovered.
Nigeria is a major transit hub for cocaine and methamphetamine. Traffickers use couriers, concealment methods and air routes to Europe and Asia. The NDLEA has intercepted tonnes of drugs in recent years. In 2025 alone, it seized over 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursors. It secured 16,469 convictions. The agency has warned that possession makes anyone legally culpable, even if they did not know what they were carrying.
The NDLEA also busted a meth shipment in an energy drink. Operatives found the drugs during a routine check. They arrested the sender. The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, warned drivers and travellers. He said carrying unknown parcels exposes them to prosecution. “Possession makes you legally culpable,” he said.
In separate operations, the NDLEA seized over ₦5 billion in drugs at major ports. The haul included Thai Loud cannabis and codeine syrup. The agency also destroyed farms and made arrests across several states. The anti-trafficking push continues.
Tunde is in custody. The investigation is ongoing. The NDLEA has not disclosed the sender’s identity in the meth case. More arrests may follow.
Winners: The NDLEA, which demonstrates vigilance. The public, which is protected from harmful drugs. The justice system, if convictions follow. Losers: Philip Tunde, who faces prosecution. The drug networks, which lose product and couriers. The sender of the meth parcel, who faces arrest. Travellers who carry parcels for strangers without checking.
Bottom Line: The NDLEA caught a cocaine courier and a meth sender. The warning is clear. Do not carry unknown parcels. Possession is a crime. The agency is watching. Traffickers adapt. The NDLEA must keep pace.