Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a suspected drug courier along the Ibadan–Oyo expressway in Oyo State, foiling an attempt to traffic cocaine across international routes.
The suspect, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka, was arrested on Tuesday, April 21, after officials stopped a commercial bus at Akinyele while it was heading towards Sokoto. A body scan conducted on him confirmed he had ingested illicit drugs.
He was subsequently placed under observation, during which he excreted 45 pellets of cocaine in three separate batches, weighing a total of 1.043 kilograms.
According to a statement by the Director , Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Femi Babafemi , Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly chose to travel by road to avoid airport detection.
The statement stated that the suspect’s plan was to excrete the drugs in Sokoto, rest, and then re-ingest them before continuing the journey through trans-Saharan routes, using Algeria as a transit point, with Europe as the intended destination.
The incident highlights the evolving tactics of drug trafficking networks, and underscores the vigilance of NDLEA operatives beyond airports, extending enforcement to highways and other transit routes.
It also reinforces the agency’s critical role in disrupting international drug supply chains and protecting public health and national security