A Nigeria businessman residing in Brazil, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos for concealing cocaine in his private parts (genitals) and the soles of his shoes.
This intelligence-led operation took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the airport’s arrival hall.
A full-body scan indicated that he was concealing illicit drugs.A subsequent strip search uncovered a large parcel of a white powdery substance, later confirmed to be cocaine, wrapped around his right thigh. Investigators also found two additional wraps of the same substance hidden in the soles of his flat shoes.
In total, authorities recovered three substantial wraps of cocaine weighing 1.60 kilograms from his body and footwear.During an initial interview, Onyekwere confessed to purchasing the illegal drugs in Brazil, intending to sell the cocaine in Nigeria. He planned to use the proceeds to support his business and finance the naming ceremony for his newborn child.
Onyekwere, residing in Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, has lived in Brazil since 2008 and has been operating a toy business for nearly nine years.
