The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended a 48-year-old businessman, Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for attempting to smuggle 817 wraps of cocaine.
The illegal drugs weigh 19.40 kilograms and have an estimated street value of ₦4.6 billion.
This arrest comes just 16 months after Ogbuji was convicted for a similar crime. He had previously been arrested in May 2023 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine.
He was sentenced to two years in prison but was released after paying a ₦3 million fine.
Ogbuji was caught again on September 18, 2024, while attempting to smuggle drugs into Nigeria on a flight from Addis Ababa. After clearing a search by NDLEA operatives, he suspiciously returned to the baggage area to retrieve a hidden backpack. The NDLEA officers intercepted him as he tried to leave the airport, leading to a secondary search that uncovered large wraps of cocaine concealed in the bag.
During questioning, Ogbuji admitted that he had left the backpack on the carousel to avoid detection. He confessed that he did not expect to undergo a second search after passing the initial inspection.
NDLEA officials revealed that Ogbuji is part of a larger drug cartel operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and other West African countries. Chairman of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers for their vigilance and efforts in seizing the massive drug haul.
“This seizure of such a large consignment of cocaine at the airport is a milestone that will send a strong message to international drug cartels attempting to operate in Nigeria,” Marwa said. “The Agency will continue to work hard to disrupt the activities of drug cartels in the country.”
Ogbuji’s arrest underscores the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and ensure the safety and security of Nigeria’s borders.
