Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a man, Oguejiofor Simonpeter, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 13.30kg of heroin, valued at over N3.192 billion, into Nigeria.
The NDLEA disclosed that Simonpeter, who returned from Thailand, was arrested on October 7, 2024, while trying to smuggle the drugs hidden in six backpacks and packed into two large suitcases.
According to a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the suspect had departed Thailand on October 3 on a Qatar Airways flight.
After spending two days in Doha, Qatar, Simonpeter arrived in Lagos on October 5, while his luggage was originally routed to Accra, Ghana.
Babafemi explained that Simonpeter tried to reroute his luggage to Nigeria as rush bags, in an effort to bypass security checks. However, NDLEA officers intercepted him as he was attempting to exit the airport.
“A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each, with a large parcel of heroin sewn into the lining of each backpack. The total weight of the six parcels recovered was 13.30kg,” Babafemi said.
The suspect reportedly admitted that he was promised $7,000 for successfully delivering the drugs to Nigeria and Ghana.
“Oguejiofor stated he was hired to transport the drugs and was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the remaining four in Accra, Ghana,” the statement read.
In addition to the airport arrest, Babafemi also revealed that NDLEA operatives intercepted large quantities of opioids worth over N22.7 billion at three seaports—Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa Seaport in Lagos, and the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Rivers State.
“A total of 32.6 million tramadol pills, valued at over N12.5 billion, along with 1.45 million bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N10.1 billion, were seized between October 7 and 11 during joint operations with the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies,” Babafemi stated.
Further operations led to arrests in Anambra and Edo states. In Anambra, a 29-year-old man, Okelue Chidera, was apprehended with 50,000 tramadol tablets, while in Edo, 38-year-old Monday Akele was arrested with 70 bags of cannabis weighing 1,050kg.
“The NDLEA remains committed to intensifying its crackdown on drug trafficking and ensuring that those involved in the illicit trade are brought to justice,” Babafemi concluded.
