Nigerian officials have confiscated 19.4 kg (42.77 pounds) of cocaine, valued at 4.66 billion naira ($2.93 million), from a passenger arriving at Lagos airport on a flight from Ethiopia, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The NDLEA reported that the suspect, a 48-year-old Nigerian businessman, was arrested on September 18. He had previously been convicted of drug trafficking but avoided prison by paying a fine. This time, he was allegedly found in possession of 817 wraps of cocaine.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has increasingly become a significant consumer and distributor of narcotics, evolving from its former role as a transit hub for gangs smuggling drugs between South America and Europe.
NDLEA chief Mohammed Buba Marwa emphasized the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug cartels operating within the country, reiterating the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.