by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country through Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the NDLEA, said Chinedu, a frequent flyer known for transporting goods between Turkey and Nigeria, was first arrested on June 24, 2025, when 800 grams of cocaine concealed in 37 wraps were “found in his carry-on luggage” upon arrival from Turkey via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Babafemi added that the former footballer admitted to trafficking drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but denied bringing any drugs into Nigeria.
According to Babafemi: “Further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be the former professional footballer, Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him.
“In his statement, Hunkarin claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but has never brought any to Nigeria.”
In another development, NDLEA operatives, on June 27, arrested one Amen Okoro Godstime, a Europe-based businessman, at Lagos airport while “attempting to smuggle 5,000 tramadol 225mg pills disguised as malaria drugs to Spain”.
At Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu, NDLEA operatives intercepted Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel, a 38-year-old bar attendant based in Maputo, Mozambique, with “17.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.05 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage”.
He arrived from Johannesburg via Addis Ababa on June 27.
Also at Enugu airport, 54-year-old toy seller Azu Follygan Kpodar was allegedly caught with 1.25 kilograms of liquid cocaine disguised as liquid soap.
One Vode Jean-Luck, a 26-year-old Beninese national, was also arrested by the anti,-drug agency at the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, on June 24, for an alleged attempt to smuggle 29.5 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis into Nigeria.
