NDLEA Apprehends Nigerian from Brazil for Concealing Cocaine in His Body

Uche Franklin Onyekwere, a Nigerian entrepreneur based in Brazil, has been captured by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle cocaine concealed in his body and the soles of his shoes.

Onyekwere was taken into custody on Thursday, January 29, 2026, during the clearance of passengers arriving on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg, based on actionable intelligence recieved.

Femi Babafemi, the agency's spokesperson, confirmed the arrest, noting that a full body scan of the 47-year-old suspect indicated the presence of illegal drugs.

"Upon conducting a strip search, officials discovered a large bundle of white powdery substance wrapped around his right thigh, which later tested positive for cocaine. Additionally, two more wraps of the same substance were found concealed in the sole of his flat shoes. In total, authorities recovered three substantial packages of cocaine, weighing 1.60 kilograms," Babafemi revealed.

During an initial interview, Onyekwere disclosed that he had acquired the narcotics in Brazil to resell in Nigeria, aiming to raise funds to enhance his business and to finance his infant child's naming ceremony. He indicated that he had been residing in Brazil since 2008 and running a toy business for nearly nine years.