Medical doctor and Ivorian national arrested over cocaine trafficking as NDLEA busts international drug syndicate

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted an international drug syndicate, arresting an Ivorian national and a 69-year-old medical doctor for cocaine trafficking. 

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The spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, April 11, 2026 said the Ivorian suspect, Gohouri Michael, 41, was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa.

According to a statement, Gohouri was found to have ingested 82 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.49kg.

Further intelligence uncovered a suspected coordinator behind the operation, leading to the arrest of the doctor, Dr Chudi Ofomata, in Ogun State. 

NDLEA operatives tracked the doctor to his residence in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, where he was arrested on March 27, 2026. 

“Efforts to unravel local collaborators of an international drug syndicate paid off following the arrest of an Ivorian, Gohouri Michael, 41, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,  Kano with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49kg and the subsequent arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr.  Chudi Daniel Ofomata in a follow-up operation in Ogun state,” the statement read 

“Michael Gohouri (also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael) was arrested on Monday 16th  February 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan, Malpensa via Addis Ababa.

“Gohouri had arrived Lagos from Milan, Italy on 17th January, 2026 and was shuttling from Lagos to Enugu for three weeks. 

“He later travelled to Kano where he stayed for a week before ingesting the cocaine consignment in his hotel room. He’s expected to be paid 5,000 Euros when he delivers the drugs in Milan.

“Further investigation by NDLEA revealed that Gohouri had a shadowy figure behind the scene, giving him instructions on how to move the cocaine consignment through the airport.

“The hidden figure behind Gohouri was eventually discovered to be Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata who was later tracked and traced to his residence at Teachers’ Land estate, Magboro, Obafemi Owode LGA, Ogun state where he was arrested on 27th March 2026 and flown to Kano on Tuesday 7th April. 

“Recovered from him at the point of his arrest include 63grams of promazepam and 7 ampoules of promethazine injection.”