The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted one of the largest heroin consignments ever seized at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, arresting a 30-year-old Brazilian woman in the process.
The suspect, identified as Ms Ingrid Rosa Benevides, was detained on Friday, January 23, 2026, shortly after she arrived aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431. The arrest followed intelligence-led surveillance operations targeting suspected drug couriers on international routes into Nigeria.
According to a statement released by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a routine search of Benevides’ two checked-in bags uncovered 21 factory-sealed packs of Brazilian coffee. What customs officials expected to be ordinary coffee products, however, turned out to be a sophisticated concealment for an illicit substance.
“When the coffee bags were opened, rather than containing the beverage, what was found inside were white substances that later tested positive for heroin, weighing a total of 30.09 kilograms,” Babafemi said in the statement. “This represents the single largest heroin seizure at the Abuja airport.”
The street value of the seized heroin has been estimated at over ₦3 billion, highlighting the scale and potential market reach of the shipment.
During preliminary interrogation, Benevides, who reportedly works as a private security officer in Brazil, told NDLEA officials that she brought the consignment into Nigeria under the pretext of a holiday visit. Babafemi noted that the claim is currently under investigation as part of efforts to unravel the full network behind the smuggling attempt.
Authorities are yet to release detailed information about how long the suspect had been under surveillance or where the drugs originated before being trafficked into Nigeria.
The Abuja heroin seizure is among several operations recently conducted by the agency. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA officers on January 20 intercepted two passengers, Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko, who were preparing to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey. A search of their luggage revealed 3,990 pills of tapentadol 250mg and tramadol 225mg concealed within food items.
Officials also reported that NDLEA Marine Command operatives, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a wooden boat at Jakande Beach, Lekki, Lagos. The vessel was carrying 44 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud cannabis, weighing 1,848 kilograms, shortly after arriving from Ghana in the early hours of January 22.
The agency’s spokesman emphasised that these interdictions are part of a sustained intelligence-driven strategy to disrupt drug trafficking networks, prevent cross-border smuggling, and reduce the supply of illicit drugs in Nigeria. Beyond hard narcotics such as heroin, NDLEA has been active in intercepting various consignments of other illegal substances, including opioids, cannabis products, and psychotropic pills, across airports, seaports, and land borders nationwide.
Drug trafficking remains a persistent security and public health challenge for Nigeria, with syndicates exploiting international and domestic routes to move consignments of illicit substances. The NDLEA has continued to intensify cooperation with international and domestic security partners to enhance detection and enforcement capabilities.
As investigations unfold, authorities have indicated that further arrests or charges may follow, particularly if links to organised crime networks are established from this latest seizure.
