A 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, narrowly escaped death after undergoing surgery to remove 57 out of 81 wraps of cocaine lodged in his stomach. The operation, an exploratory laparotomy, was conducted following complications that arose seven days after he ingested the illicit drugs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Igbokwe was apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos during passenger clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight on January 26, 2025. A body scan confirmed the presence of illegal substances in his system.
Investigations revealed that Igbokwe, who claimed to be a clothing merchant in Oshodi, Lagos, had travelled to Addis Ababa on January 22, where he ingested the 81 wraps of cocaine on January 23. He then boarded a flight to Beirut, Lebanon, intending to deliver the drugs for a $3,000 fee. However, Lebanese authorities denied him entry due to insufficient funds and deported him back to Addis Ababa.
After unsuccessful attempts to excrete the drugs, Igbokwe returned to Lagos on January 25. He was arrested by NDLEA operatives upon arrival and placed under observation. Despite initial medical interventions, he only expelled 24 pellets over five days. With his condition worsening, doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) performed the life-saving surgery on January 30, recovering the remaining 57 wraps.
