Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded a major breakthrough in Abuja after arresting a 30-year-old Brazilian woman, Ingrid Rosa Benevides, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 30.09 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria.
The suspect was taken into custody at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Friday, January 23, 2026, shortly after arriving on a Qatar Airways flight, QR1431. NDLEA officials said the arrest followed intelligence-led surveillance targeting suspected drug couriers on international routes into the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that officers discovered 21 factory-sealed packs of Brazilian coffee inside two checked-in bags belonging to the passenger.
Babafemi explained that although the items appeared like regular coffee products, a closer inspection revealed they contained a white substance which later tested positive for heroin. The total weight of the seized narcotics was placed at 30.09 kilograms, with an estimated street value of over N3 billion.
NDLEA also described the haul as the largest heroin seizure ever made at the Abuja airport.
During preliminary questioning, Benevides, who reportedly works as a private security officer in Brazil, claimed she travelled to Nigeria on holiday. The agency said investigations were ongoing to determine the origin of the shipment and the network behind the attempted importation.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, intercepted two passengers attempting to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, with suspected opioids concealed in food packs.
The suspects were identified as Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko. Officials said they were arrested on Tuesday, January 20, while boarding a Turkish Airlines flight. A search of their luggage reportedly led to the discovery of 3,990 pills of tapentadol 250mg and tramaking 225mg hidden among food items packed in their bags.
Also in Lagos, NDLEA’s Marine Command recovered a large cannabis consignment after intercepting a wooden boat at Jakande Beach, Lekki.
The agency said the operation was carried out around 1am on Thursday, January 22, following actionable intelligence. NDLEA officers reportedly stormed the beach and recovered 44 jumbo bags of “Ghana Loud,” a high-strength strain of cannabis, weighing 1,848 kilograms. The boat used to convey the drugs was also seized.
Babafemi said the series of arrests and seizures reflects the NDLEA’s intensified clampdown on drug trafficking syndicates exploiting Nigeria’s airports, borders and waterways for illicit trade.
He added that suspects connected to the cases will be charged in court at the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
