Nigerian businessman returns from Brazil with 700g of cocaine in his stomach after 35 years abroad.
Ezeokoli Sylva, a 59-year-old businessman, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for smuggling 700 grams of cocaine concealed in his stomach.
The discovery was made on Friday, November 29, 2024, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The suspect, who had been based in Brazil for 35 years, arrived in Lagos from São Paulo via an Ethiopian Airlines flight through Addis Ababa, NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday, December 1.
A body scan revealed foreign objects in his stomach, prompting authorities to place him under excretion observation. He later expelled 29 wraps of cocaine, which tested positive for the substance.
Ezeokoli claimed to operate an African store in Brazil, selling provisions, shoes, and clothes. He admitted to purchasing the cocaine in São Paulo, intending to resell it in Nigeria to raise capital to expand his business.
