A 30-year-old Brazilian woman, Ingrid Rosa Benevides, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for attempting to bring 30.09 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria, concealed inside factory-sealed coffee packs.
The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at over N3 billion.
Benevides, who works as a private security officer in Brazil, was apprehended on January 23, 2026, upon arrival on Qatar Airways flight QR1431.
According to the NDLEA, the arrest followed processed intelligence about her planned illegal importation. A search of her two checked-in bags revealed 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee.
“When the coffee bags were opened, instead of coffee, we discovered white substances which later tested positive for heroin weighing a total of 30.09 kilograms,” the agency stated, noting that this is the largest single heroin seizure at Abuja airport to date.
During a preliminary interview, Benevides claimed she had brought the heroin consignment under the pretext of coming to Nigeria for holidays.