What began as an attempt to deal with wedding expenses has allegedly landed a 25-year-old businessman in serious trouble after he was arrested with 72 wraps of cocaine at an airport in Enugu.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said its operatives arrested the suspect, identified as Lovely Chukwulobelu, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Thursday, September 25, 2026.
According to the agency, Chukwulobelu was intercepted at the departure hall while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa.
NDLEA said a body scan indicated that he had allegedly ingested illicit substances. He was subsequently placed under observation, during which he reportedly expelled all 72 wraps of cocaine.
The agency also said the suspect was wearing a wedding ring when he was arrested and told investigators that he had previously operated a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos.
According to NDLEA, he claimed that he became involved in the alleged drug trafficking arrangement in an attempt to raise money to offset expenses from his recent wedding. These claims are part of the ongoing investigation and do not amount to a conviction.
Beyond the legal consequences, the case also highlights the potentially serious health risks associated with swallowing packets of drugs.
Medical literature on “body packing” has documented complications including intestinal obstruction and potentially fatal cocaine poisoning if a packet ruptures inside the body.
The reported circumstances therefore raise a wider concern about the consequences of trying to solve temporary financial pressure through extremely risky decisions.
Wedding expenses may create financial pressure, but an alleged attempt to recover such costs through drug trafficking could expose a person to far more serious consequences, including arrest, legal proceedings, loss of income, health complications and strain on family relationships.
For the newlywed at the centre of the case, the alleged decision to deal with a temporary financial challenge could now have consequences that extend far beyond the original debt.
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