The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended two brothers, John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31, for attempting to smuggle five kilograms of cocaine through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. The arrest took place on Thursday, April 3, following a proactive operation based on credible intelligence.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the suspects were intercepted while trying to board a flight to India. A thorough search of their luggage revealed the illicit substance concealed within the walls of their suitcases. Laboratory tests later confirmed the substance to be cocaine.
The brothers claimed they were traveling to India for medical treatment. However, NDLEA operatives uncovered their attempt to traffic drugs through meticulous security checks.
In a related operation on the same day, NDLEA officers also arrested Parker Osei, a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, at the airport. Osei was found in possession of 19.4 kilograms of cannabis, popularly known as “Loud,” neatly packed in a large traveling bag. He was apprehended during passenger clearance at the E-arrival hall after arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
Osei, who identified himself as a Computer Science student at East London University in the UK, admitted to collecting the drug consignment during his trip to Bangkok. He disclosed that he was meant to deliver it in Nigeria before his arrest.
The NDLEA emphasized that these arrests reflect its unwavering commitment to curbing drug trafficking and dismantling international drug networks operating through Nigeria’s airports. The agency praised its operatives for their diligence and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward drug-related crimes.
Femi Babafemi commended the vigilance of the officers involved and assured that traffickers would face the full weight of the law regardless of their background or methods. He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to support the agency’s efforts.
These recent successes add to NDLEA’s growing list of high-profile arrests and drug seizures at MMIA, a known hub for international drug trafficking due to its strategic location and global connections.
