The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazilian national, Ingrid Rosa Benevides, for attempting to smuggle heroin valued at over N3 billion into Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Friday, January 23, 2026, was confirmed in a statement issued by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi. According to the agency, the operation was intelligence-led and formed part of intensified surveillance at Nigeria’s international entry points.
Benevides, a 30-year-old private security officer based in Brazil, arrived in Abuja aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Brazil. During routine inspection, NDLEA operatives flagged her two checked-in bags for further examination after discovering 21 factory-sealed packs of Brazilian coffee.
Although the items appeared sealed and legitimate, a detailed search revealed that the coffee packs did not contain coffee. Instead, NDLEA officers uncovered a white substance concealed inside the packs, which laboratory tests later confirmed to be heroin.
The total weight of the seized drug was 30.09 kilograms, with the NDLEA estimating its street value at over N3 billion.
“A total of 30.09 kilograms of white heroin concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs worth over N3 billion in street value was recovered,” the agency said.
During preliminary interrogation, Benevides reportedly claimed that she travelled to Nigeria under the guise of visiting for holidays. She is currently in NDLEA custody as investigations continue.
Airport and border interceptions
The NDLEA also reported a series of related drug interdictions across the country within the same period, underscoring what it described as sustained pressure on drug trafficking networks.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, operatives intercepted two passengers—Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko—on Tuesday, January 20, while they were attempting to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey. A search of their luggage led to the recovery of 3,990 pills of tapentadol and tramadol, concealed inside food items.
In Lagos, officers of the NDLEA Marine Command intercepted a wooden boat conveying 44 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud cannabis, weighing 1,848 kilograms, at Jakande Beach, Lekki, in the early hours of Thursday, January 22.
The agency also confirmed the arrest of Aminu Ali Baba and Abdulrasheed Abubakar in connection with the interception of 140 packets of explosives being transported to Kano and Kaduna. The explosives were initially intercepted along the Kaduna–Zaria highway, while follow-up operations led to the arrest of the suspects in both states.
In Borno State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 179,590 pills of tramadol and diazepam hidden inside sacks of charcoal and animal feed in a commercial vehicle coming from Yobe State. Further investigation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Rabiu Imam.
Nationwide raids
Beyond airports and highways, the NDLEA said it carried out multiple raids across several states, leading to arrests and large seizures of illicit substances. These include:
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The arrest of a 72-year-old suspect, Afolalu Joseph, in Ekiti State, with 62 kilograms of skunk
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The arrest of an Edo village head, Chief James Abamu, alongside another suspect, with 681 kilograms of skunk and 181 kilograms of cannabis seeds
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The seizure of significant quantities of tramadol, skunk, pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, and other illicit drugs in Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Benue, Niger, Kwara, the FCT, Kano, Ondo, and Jigawa States
The agency said several suspects remain in custody, while investigations and prosecutions are ongoing nationwide.
What you should know
The arrest of the Brazilian national highlights a recurring pattern of foreign-linked drug trafficking attempts at Nigeria’s international airports.
In October 2024, NDLEA operatives arrested a Thailand returnee at the Lagos airport with 13.30 kilograms of heroin valued at over N3.1 billion, concealed in backpacks inside suitcases. In the same month, a Canada-based nurse and two businessmen were arrested with 35.7 kilograms of synthetic cannabis (Canadian Loud), alongside cocaine recovered from a suspect who had ingested the drug.
Earlier in 2025, the agency also arrested multiple suspects at the Lagos and Port Harcourt airports, including passengers found to have ingested wraps of heroin that were later recovered following body scans and observation.
According to the NDLEA, these cases reflect the scale and sophistication of transnational drug trafficking networks targeting Nigeria, and reinforce the agency’s commitment to tightening border security and disrupting illicit drug supply chains.
Emmanuel Bassey is a Financial Expert that has worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for over 15+ years across different banks in Nigeria
