NDLEA arrests medical doctor, Ivorian over cocaine trafficking

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested an Ivorian and a Nigerian medical doctor over their alleged involvement in cocaine trafficking.

The agency said the Ivorian suspect, Gohouri Michael, 41, was apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa.

According to a statement on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Gohouri was found to have ingested 82 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.49kg.

“Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan, Italy, on January 17, 2026, and was shuttling between Lagos and Enugu for three weeks. He later travelled to Kano, where he stayed for a week before ingesting the cocaine consignment in his hotel room.

Further investigation by the NDLEA revealed that Gohouri had a shadowy figure behind the scenes, giving him instructions on how to move the cocaine consignment through the airport.

“The hidden figure behind Gohouri was eventually discovered to be Dr Chudi Ofomata, who was later tracked to his residence at Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, Obafemi Owode LGA, Ogun State, where he was arrested on March 27, 2026, and flown to Kano on Tuesday, April 7.

“Recovered from him at the point of arrest were 63 grams of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection,” the statement added.

The arrests were part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and their collaborators.

In another operation in Lagos, Babafemi said operatives intercepted a luxury bus belonging to Chisco Transport with registration number AGU 442 XB, recovering illicit drugs concealed within it.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Tuesday, April 7, intercepted a Chisco Transport luxury bus heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

“A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 15 kilograms of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis, concealed in one of the compartments of the bus. Two suspects, Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi, were promptly arrested,” he said.

Similarly, in Borno State, operatives intercepted a trailer conveying large quantities of Rohypnol tablets, codeine syrup, and pentazocine injections, leading to the arrest of the consignment owner.

In a separate operation in Mushin, Lagos, Babafemi said officials seized 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup and arrested two individuals.