The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, after allegedly intercepting 4.80 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside shoes and travelling bags at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos State.
According to a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, Tunde was arrested on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2.
The agency said the suspect was preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy, when operatives subjected him and his luggage to a thorough search.
The search reportedly led to the discovery of 16 parcels of white powder concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes.
NDLEA operatives also allegedly recovered another 195 wraps of the substance hidden inside the railings of four travelling bags belonging to the suspect.
The agency said the recovered substance was identified as cocaine, with the total weight put at 4.80 kilogrammes.
The arrest forms part of the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to intercept illicit drugs at Nigeria’s airports and prevent traffickers from moving controlled substances across international borders.
The suspect was reportedly taken into custody for further investigation, while the agency continues its inquiry into the source of the cocaine and the intended destination of the consignment.
The case is expected to proceed in accordance with relevant Nigerian drug-trafficking laws.
