Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on June 29, 2026 arrested a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over the seizure of 5.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters, a consignment that was part of a consolidated cargo heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, confirmed this in an update by the anti-narcotics agency.
In the update on Sunday, Babafemi said the arrest of Nwabueze in Anambra State followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, with a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms, concealed within the walls of the herbal drink cartons.
Four suspects initially arrested in parts of Lagos during investigations included the cargo agent, Alalade Taiwo Azeez; the driver who conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent, Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; a trader at ASPANDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State, who handed over the consignment to the driver for delivery to the cargo agent, Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie; and an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Origin bitters used in concealing the cocaine, Igwilo Chidi Henry.
The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State as the leader of the syndicate.
