By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
A BUSINESSMAN, previously convicted for drug trafficking, has been caught again at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji, 48, was apprehended for smuggling 817 wraps of cocaine weighing 19.40 kilograms, valued at N4.656 billion.
The drugs were hidden in a backpack he attempted to smuggle past customs by switching bags after an initial search.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested him during a second clearance.
Ogbuji, who had earlier served a two-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine, returned to drug smuggling just months after his release.
In his previous arrest, he was nabbed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where he arrived from Uganda on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Upon his conviction, he paid a fine of N3 million, secured his release, and continued his illegal activities.
In his recent attempt, Ogbuji sneaked a concealed backpack onto a cleared piece of luggage while collecting his bags.
However, vigilant NDLEA officers stopped him for a secondary search where they discovered the hidden drugs.
The consignment reportedly belonged to various drug traffickers operating across Nigeria and other West African countries.
Seized N16.1 Billion Tapentadol and Codeine
Days earlier on Sunday, the NDLEA had seized 25 million pills of tapentadol and 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup in Lagos, valued at over N16.1 billion.
These seizures were made at Tincan Port Complex following intelligence-based operations.
The agency has also been active across the country, arresting a drug mule at Kano Airport and conducting several raids in Lagos, Kogi, Rivers, and Kwara states.
In Lagos, an 80-year-old man was arrested for selling cannabis, while a notorious community leader, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, is still on the run after NDLEA operatives raided his homes and seized large quantities of cannabis.
As the NDLEA continues its mission to both reduce drug supply and demand, with community outreach programmes and educational campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse; the Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers for their keen observation and diligence.
He emphasized that the agency remains committed to combating international drug trafficking networks and will not relent in its efforts to secure the nation’s borders from illegal drug trade.
