A businessman from Enugu State has been arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) while attempting to smuggle 95 wraps of cocaine to China. The suspect, whose identity has been linked to various real estate interests in the Southeast, reportedly confessed that his primary motive was to raise the final funds needed to complete his “village mansion.”
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the suspect during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. Following a scan and subsequent observation, the businessman excreted the 95 pellets of the Class A drug over the course of three days.
During interrogation, the suspect claimed he had invested heavily in a multi-million naira mansion in his hometown but ran out of funds to finish the interior and roofing. He stated he was “tempted” by a recruiter who promised him a life-changing sum to deliver the drugs to Canton, China.
Smuggling drugs to China carries extremely severe penalties, including the death penalty. The suspect admitted he was aware of the risks but felt “desperate” to complete his building project before the upcoming festive season. The 95 wraps of cocaine were carefully packaged and ingested. NDLEA officials noted that this is one of the highest numbers of wraps ingested by a single individual intercepted at the Kano airport in recent months.
The NDLEA has confirmed that the suspect will be charged to court as soon as preliminary investigations are concluded. Meanwhile, his properties, including the mansion in question, may be subject to interim forfeiture as proceeds of suspected illicit trade. In the NDLEA official’s words, “It is deeply unfortunate that a businessman would risk his life and the reputation of his country just to complete a building. The law will take its full course.”
This arrest comes amid a stepped-up campaign by the NDLEA to curb drug trafficking through Nigeria’s international airports, with a particular focus on the “swallow” method used by traffickers heading to Asia and Europe.
