A Nigerian businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone an exploratory laparotomy to remove 57 out of 81 cocaine pellets that had been lodged in his stomach for seven days after ingesting them in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Igbokwe was arrested on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
A body scan conducted by NDLEA operatives confirmed the presence of illicit substances in his system, leading to his immediate detention for excretion observation.
Failed Beirut Trip Exposed Drug Trafficking Attempt
Investigations revealed that Igbokwe, who claimed to be a clothing trader at Arena Market, Oshodi, Lagos, traveled from Lagos to Addis Ababa on January 22. On January 23, he ingested 81 wraps of cocaine before boarding a flight to Beirut, Lebanon, where he was expected to deliver the consignment in exchange for $3,000.
However, upon arrival in Beirut, Lebanese authorities denied him entry for failing to meet the minimum cash requirement of $2,000, leading to his deportation back to Addis Ababa. While in Ethiopia, he attempted to excrete the illicit drugs but was unsuccessful.
Medical Emergency Leads to Surgery
On January 25, Igbokwe flew back to Lagos with the drugs still inside him but was apprehended by NDLEA officers upon arrival the following day.
After five days in custody, he only expelled 24 pellets, prompting medical intervention at the NDLEA’s medical facility and later at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
With time running out and worsening health conditions, Igbokwe was admitted for exploratory laparotomy on January 30, following consent from his wife and brother. The surgery successfully removed the remaining 57 pellets of cocaine.
Babafemi confirmed that NDLEA operatives recovered all 81 pellets, weighing 1.943 kilograms, from the suspect.
