NDLEA Arrests Ex-Convict with N4.6 Billion Worth of Cocaine at Lagos Airport

Ogbuji’s latest arrest comes just 16 months after he was convicted for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi stated that Ogbuji was initially detained on May 10, 2023, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon arriving from Uganda via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 951. He was charged in Federal High Court 12 in Abuja and, after pleading guilty, was sentenced on July 13, 2023, to two years in prison with an option to pay a fine of N3 million, which he did, leading to his release.

On September 18, 2024, Ogbuji was again intercepted at Lagos airport during the clearance of passengers arriving from Addis Ababa. During questioning, he revealed that he had left a backpack containing the drugs at the carousel, hoping to evade detection. He had presented his main bag for inspection, which was cleared, but then attempted to retrieve the backpack, concealing it in the cleared bag.

Vigilant NDLEA officers conducted a secondary search, uncovering the concealed cocaine, which was excreted by multiple traffickers en route from Addis Ababa. Ogbuji allegedly procured a new international passport to facilitate his ongoing drug trafficking activities.

NDLEA investigations indicate that Ogbuji is a significant player within a drug cartel network that spans Brazil, Ethiopia, and several West African countries, including Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, praised the officers of the MMIA Strategic Command for their diligence, asserting that this seizure sends a strong message to international drug traffickers attempting to establish operations in Nigeria. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to disrupting the activities of drug cartels across the country.