NDLEA Intercepts Ex-Convict with N4.6 Billion Worth of Cocaine at Lagos Airport

In a significant drug bust, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted an ex-convict, Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji, for attempting to import a massive 19.40 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated N4.6 billion into Nigeria. The arrest, which took place at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on September 18, highlights ongoing efforts by the NDLEA to curb the infiltration of drug cartels into the country.

Ogbuji, a 48-year-old businessman, had previously been arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja in May 2023 after being caught with 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986 kilograms. Despite his conviction and a two-year prison sentence, Ogbuji resumed trafficking activities, this time attempting to conceal 817 wraps of cocaine in a black backpack at MMIA. His arrest underscores the growing sophistication of drug trafficking networks in Nigeria and the West African region.

Repeat Offender Re-Arrested for Large Drug Haul

Ogbuji’s re-arrest comes just 16 months after his previous conviction for drug trafficking. In his earlier arrest at Abuja’s NAIA, Ogbuji was apprehended after arriving from Uganda on an Ethiopian Airlines flight with 1.986 kilograms of cocaine ingested in 93 pellets. Following a court trial, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment by Hon. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with an option of a N3 million fine, which he paid. Additionally, his international passport and foreign currency were forfeited.

Ogbuji’s recent attempt to smuggle drugs into Nigeria involved an elaborate scheme to bypass airport security. After his bag was initially cleared by an NDLEA operative, he discreetly returned to the baggage area and added a concealed black backpack filled with 817 wraps of cocaine. NDLEA officials, however, detected the added bag during a secondary search, leading to his arrest and the seizure of the 19.40 kilograms of cocaine.

NDLEA Uncovers Expansive Drug Cartel Network

Following his arrest, Ogbuji revealed strategies employed by his network to evade airport security. His tactics included obtaining a new international passport to continue trafficking and leaving the drug-laden backpack on the baggage carousel to avoid detection during the first bag check. These strategies point to a sophisticated drug cartel operating across West Africa, with a trafficking network spanning Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and neighboring countries such as Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire.

The NDLEA’s investigation further indicates that Ogbuji is deeply embedded in an organized drug trafficking ring that actively recruits couriers from across Africa and Latin America. The large quantity of cocaine intercepted at MMIA suggests the cartel’s ambitious reach, with Nigeria emerging as a critical transit point. This latest interception underlines the challenges facing the NDLEA as it works to disrupt trafficking operations in and around Nigeria.

NDLEA Reaffirms Commitment to Curbing Drug Cartels

Reacting to the successful operation, NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the MMIA Strategic Command officers for their vigilance and professionalism in apprehending Ogbuji. Marwa emphasized that the seizure of such a substantial cocaine consignment sends a strong signal to international drug cartels that Nigeria is not a safe haven for their operations.

In a statement, Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks attempting to gain a foothold in Nigeria. He stated that the NDLEA will continue to adopt stringent measures to intercept and prosecute traffickers at Nigerian entry points. Marwa also encouraged continued collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to weaken the drug trafficking pipelines targeting Nigeria.

A Deepening Crisis: Nigeria’s Youth and the Threat of Drug Cartels

The rise in drug trafficking cases involving Nigerian youth has raised concerns among policymakers and the public alike. NDLEA reports indicate that drug cartels exploit vulnerable populations, with traffickers often lured by financial incentives despite the high risk of imprisonment or death. Marwa called on community leaders and institutions to join in combating the drug crisis, which has deeply affected Nigerian communities and placed a generation at risk.

Ogbuji’s repeated offenses underscore the tenacity of cartel networks, which use Nigeria as a transit hub for drug distribution across West Africa and beyond. NDLEA’s high-profile arrests and drug seizures have been instrumental in disrupting cartel activities; however, Marwa emphasized the need for sustained governmental and societal efforts. The recent seizure is a reminder of the challenges facing NDLEA in protecting Nigerian youths from the adverse impacts of drug addiction, which continue to plague the nation’s social fabric.