A 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, narrowly survived a life-threatening situation after undergoing an emergency surgery to remove 57 out of 81 pellets of cocaine from his stomach. Igbokwe had ingested the illicit substances in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of a drug trafficking operation but was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) upon arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on January 26, 2025.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Igbokwe had traveled from Lagos to Addis Ababa on January 22 and ingested the drug pellets on January 23 before boarding a flight to Beirut, Lebanon. However, he was denied entry into Lebanon due to insufficient funds and deported back to Addis Ababa. While stranded there, he attempted to expel the drugs but failed. Unable to get rid of the contraband, he proceeded to Lagos, where NDLEA operatives intercepted him upon arrival.
Despite five days in NDLEA custody under excretion observation and medical intervention at LASUTH, he was only able to pass 24 of the pellets. His condition worsened due to complications, necessitating an emergency exploratory laparotomy to remove the remaining 57 pellets. With his wife and brother consenting to the procedure, doctors successfully retrieved all the drugs, which had a total gross weight of 1.943 kilograms.
This case highlights the extreme risks involved in drug trafficking, particularly the dangerous practice of swallowing drug pellets. Without timely medical intervention, Igbokwe could have suffered a fatal overdose or severe internal damage.
