{
  "id": 1387256,
  "title": "NDLEA arrests businessman with N23m cocaine at Lagos airport",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ndlea-arrests-businessman-with-n23m-cocaine-at-lagos-airport",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T01:12:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/ndlea-arrests-businessman-with-n23m-cocaine-at-lagos-airport/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Nwankwo Onyebuchi, a 48-year-old businessman, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Onyebuchi was arrested for attempting to board a flight to New Delhi, India, carrying 1.550kg of cocaine concealed within the walls and railings of his luggage. The NDLEA's Media and Advocacy Director, Femi Babafemi, revealed this during a statement on Sunday. Onyebuchi, who formerly ran a marble business in Lagos, confessed to selling all his assets, including his business, to acquire the N23 million needed to buy the cocaine. He planned to sell the drug in India for up to N100 million. Onyebuchi is currently in custody awaiting prosecution. The NDLEA also conducted raids in various states, recovering a significant quantity of controlled substances, including codeine-based syrup, Colorado cannabis, and synthetic cannabis known as Loud.",
  "summary": "The NDLEA has arrested a businessman with N23m worth of cocaine at Lagos airport, concealed in his luggage. Read More: https://punchng.com/ndlea-arrests-businessman-with-n23m-cocaine-at-lagos-airport/",
  "key_points": [
    "NDLEA arrests Nwankwo Onyebuchi at Lagos airport",
    "1.550kg cocaine found hidden in luggage",
    "Onyebuchi confessed to selling assets for drug purchase"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The arrest marks a significant escalation in NDLEA's crackdown on cocaine trafficking, with Onyebuchi's case highlighting the agency's focus on disrupting large-scale smuggling operations targeting international markets.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}