Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian national, Ingrid Benevides, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with over 30 kilograms of heroin concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs.
The suspect was arrested on Friday, January 23, 2026, upon her arrival in Abuja aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431, following intelligence-driven surveillance by NDLEA officers.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said a thorough search of Benevides’ two checked-in bags led to the discovery of 21 sealed packs of Brazilian coffee.
Further examination revealed that the packs contained a white powdery substance, which later tested positive for heroin, weighing a total of 30.09 kilogrammes and valued at over ₦3 billion.
Babafemi disclosed that the seizure represents the largest single heroin interception ever recorded at the Abuja airport.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who works as a private security officer in Brazil, claimed she brought the illicit consignment into Nigeria under the pretext of visiting the country for holidays.
Babafemi added that several other intelligence-led operations across the country resulted in the arrest of multiple suspects and the seizure of various illicit substances, including tramadol, skunk, pentazocine injections, cannabis seeds and codeine syrup, in states such as Kaduna, Borno, Niger, Ekiti, Edo, Kano, Oyo, Benue, Lagos, Delta and Ondo.
The NDLEA said the arrests and seizures are part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates, curb cross-border smuggling, and cut off drug supply channels linked to criminal and terrorist activities.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening intelligence-driven operations to combat drug abuse and trafficking across Nigeria.