Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, over an alleged attempt to export 3.30kg of cocaine concealed in cartons of foodstuffs to the United Kingdom.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu, a clothing trader at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

The arrest followed the interception of his consignment a day earlier, Wednesday, July 22, at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

During investigation, NDLEA operatives initially arrested three cargo agents: Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment. That led to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the consignment to the agents for shipment to the UK.

“Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK,” the statement added.

The NDLEA said the operation is part of its ongoing crackdown on drug cartels using Nigeria as a transit point for narcotics headed to Europe. The agency noted it had recently dismantled two major cartels behind six UK-bound cocaine consignments concealed in stainless cups, body cream and hair gel containers.

The suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.