Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a major heroin shipment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and arrested a 30 year old Brazilian national, Ingrid Rosa Benevides, in connection with the consignment. The seized drugs weighed 30.09 kilograms and were concealed inside factory sealed coffee packs, with an estimated street value of more than ₦3 billion.
According to a statement by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was placed under intelligence led surveillance following credible information indicating possible involvement in international drug trafficking. Benevides was arrested on Friday, January 23, 2026, shortly after her arrival in Abuja aboard a Qatar Airways flight QR1431. A detailed search of her two checked in bags led to the discovery of 21 sealed coffee packs which tested positive for heroin. NDLEA officials described the seizure as the largest single heroin interception recorded at the Abuja airport.
During preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly claimed she travelled to Nigeria for a holiday, a statement investigators say is being subjected to further verification. The agency noted that the arrest highlights the effectiveness of enhanced passenger profiling, intelligence gathering, and advanced screening procedures deployed at Nigeria’s international airports to counter transnational drug trafficking networks.
The NDLEA confirmed that it is working with the Federal Ministry of Justice to complete investigations and file formal charges against the suspect in accordance with Nigerian law. Authorities also disclosed that follow up operations are ongoing to identify and dismantle any wider criminal networks linked to the shipment within West Africa, as part of broader efforts to strengthen border security and international anti narcotics cooperation.
