New Arrest of Infamous Drug Trafficker at Lagos Airport

A 48-year-old repeat offender, Christian Ogbuji, has been taken into custody again by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. This arrest follows his previous capture 16 months prior for swallowing 93 pellets of cocaine.

According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, Ogbuji attempted to smuggle 817 wraps of cocaine weighing 19.40 kilograms, valued at about N4.656 billion.

Ogbuji’s initial arrest occurred on May 10, 2023, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. After returning from Uganda, he was charged with smuggling 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986 kilograms and subsequently convicted on July 13, 2023. He received a two-year prison sentence or the option to pay a fine of N3 million, which he chose to pay. The court also mandated the confiscation of the 1.986 kilograms of cocaine, his passport, 14 US dollars, and 9,000 Uganda shillings found in his possession.

On September 18, 2024, Ogbuji was caught again at the Lagos airport. He had presented one bag for inspection but attempted to switch it with another bag containing cocaine after the initial check. NDLEA officers, however, noticed his suspicious behavior and conducted a secondary search, uncovering cocaine concealed in a backpack inside the previously cleared bag.

During interrogation, Ogbuji admitted that his plan was to outsmart the NDLEA by first leaving the backpack behind, presuming that since nothing was found in his initial luggage search, he would pass undetected. He confessed to obtaining a new passport to continue his smuggling activities.

The NDLEA’s findings indicate that Ogbuji is a significant player in a widespread drug trafficking network connecting Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and various West African nations, including Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Responding to Ogbuji’s arrest, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the officers’ efforts, highlighting the importance of this drug seizure in disrupting international drug trafficking in Nigeria. He assured that the agency will remain steadfast in combatting drug cartels operating within the country.