An Italy-based Nigerian businessman, Joseph Cyril, 30, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after he allegedly ingested 98 wraps of cocaine for onward trafficking to Europe.

Cyril was arrested Sunday, at the departure hall of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, en route to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.

Following his arrest, the suspect was placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.

The NDLEA said through the director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement  Sunday,  that  investigations revealed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra state, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight.

In his confessional statement, the suspect  said he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for €3,500. He allegedly said he wanted to raise money to relocate to Germany, where members of his family are based.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives foiled an attempt to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed inside 25 pieces of phone chargers to Saudi Arabia through a courier company in Lagos.