Nigerian officials have seized 19.4 kilograms (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, the country’s anti-drug agency announced Tuesday.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported the arrest of a 48-year-old Nigerian businessman on September 18. The suspect, who had previously been convicted of drug trafficking last year but avoided jail time by paying a fine, was allegedly carrying 817 wraps of cocaine.
NDLEA chief Mohammed Buba Marwa stated, “The agency will continue to work to disrupt the activities of drug cartels operating in the country.”
Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million, has recently transitioned from being primarily a transit point for drug gangs moving narcotics between South America and Europe to becoming a significant consumer and distributor market.
REUTERS
