30-year-old Brazilian security officer intercepted with 30kg of heroin concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs aboard Qatar Airways flight

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian national, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, over her involvement in trafficking a large consignment of heroin into Nigeria.

Benevides was apprehended on Friday, January 23, 2026, upon her arrival from Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight QR1431, following intelligence-led surveillance by NDLEA operatives. A search of her two checked-in bags led to the discovery of 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee.

Further examination revealed that the coffee packs did not contain the beverage as labelled but were filled with white substances which later tested positive for heroin. The illicit drugs weighed a total of 30.09 kilograms and have an estimated street value of over ₦3 billion, making it the largest single heroin seizure ever recorded at the Abuja airport.

NDLEA officials disclosed that the suspect works as a private security officer in Brazil. During her preliminary interview, she claimed she brought the concealed heroin into Nigeria under the guise of travelling for a holiday.

The Agency confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify and dismantle the drug trafficking network linked to the consignment, while the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of inquiries.

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