Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, after allegedly discovering 4.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the soles of shoes and the railings of travelling bags at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The suspect was arrested on September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.
According to the NDLEA, a thorough search led to the recovery of 16 parcels of a white powdery substance concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, as well as 195 wraps of the same substance hidden in the railings of four travelling bags. The agency said the substances subsequently tested positive for cocaine and weighed a combined 4.80kg.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect allegedly told investigators that he paid ₦16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the drugs hidden in the travelling bags were intended for delivery to a partner in Italy.
The suspect also reportedly claimed that he raised the money from compensation paid to him after sustaining an injury while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.
The arrest formed part of a series of intelligence-led operations recently conducted by the NDLEA across the country, resulting in several arrests and the seizure of substantial quantities of illicit drugs.
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