Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested a woman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on January 23, 2026. The arrest occurred shortly after her arrival on Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Doha.
NDLEA officers searched the woman’s two checked-in bags following intelligence. They discovered 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee. Upon opening the packs, officers found white substances instead of coffee. Laboratory tests confirmed the substances as 30.09 kilograms of heroin.
The agency described the seizure as the largest single heroin interception ever recorded at the Abuja airport. Officials estimated the street value of the heroin at over ₦3 billion.
The arrested woman, Ingrid Rosa Benevides, worked as a private security officer in Brazil. She is 30 years old. In her preliminary statement, Benevides claimed she traveled to Nigeria on holiday. She also stated that she brought the consignment under the guise of a vacation.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest to newsmen. Babafemi said officers found the heroin inside the coffee packs after initial examination. He noted that the substance tested positive for heroin.
NDLEA officials continued investigations into the case. They linked the arrest to broader efforts against drug trafficking networks. The agency reported similar operations across Nigeria that seized other illicit drugs and explosives.
