Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended Christian Ogbuji, a 48-year-old businessman at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, just 16 months after his previous conviction for drug trafficking.
Ogbuji was arrested during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers on September 18, 2024, attempting to smuggle 817 wraps of cocaine weighing 19.40 kilograms, valued at ₦4.6 billion.
Previously, Ogbuji was convicted in July 2023 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986kg. He had paid a ₦3 million fine to avoid a two-year prison sentence but resumed his illegal activities, this time attempting to sneak cocaine hidden in a black backpack, which he had left on the airport carousel to avoid detection.
During the secondary search, NDLEA operatives uncovered the concealed drugs, tied to a cartel operating across Brazil, Ethiopia, and West Africa.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), praised the operation, calling the seizure a significant blow to international drug networks. The Agency vows to continue cracking down on drug traffickers in Nigeria.
