NDLEA arrests Angolan businessman for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Turkey  

Abdullateef Fowewe

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Abuba, for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine to Istanbul, Turkey.

Abuba, who is a native of Zaire Province in Angola, was apprehended on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the screening point of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while trying to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul via Cairo.

A statement on Sunday, by the drug enforcement agency confirmed that a body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit drugs, leading to his placement under excretion observation.

Over seven excretions, he expelled 120 pellets of cocaine, with a total weight of 1.829 kilograms.

Abuba admitted he was previously involved in the township delivery business in Angola before turning to drug trafficking.

The statement said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 42-year-old Angolan businessman Mbala Dajou Abuba at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano for attempting to traffic a large consignment of cocaine, which he ingested, to Istanbul Turkey.

“Abuba, who is from the Zaire province in Angola, was arrested on Tuesday, 25th February 2025, at the screening point of the Kano airport while trying to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul, Turkey, via Cairo. After his body scan result confirmed he ingested an illicit drug, he was thereafter placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms in seven excretions.

“In his statement, the suspect claimed he was into the business of township delivery services in Angola before delving into the illicit drug trade.”