Ex-Footballer Arrested In Cocaine Smuggling Attempt At Lagos Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended Segun George Hunkarin, a former professional football player, and his business partner, Ntoruka Chinedu, in connection with an attempt to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria via Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday. According to the statement, Chinedu, a frequent ttravellerknown for trading goods between Turkey and Nigeria, was apprehended when he arrived at the Lagos airport last Tuesday.

A search of his carry-on bag revealed 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grammes hidden inside.

According to the investigation, Chinedu arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Turkey and transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he allegedly received the drugs from another person.

“Further investigation revealed that an accomplice, Segun Hunkarin, a former professional footballer, was waiting for Chinedu in the airport ccar parkto collect the consignment,” Babafemi stated.

Hunkarin, who had spent several years playing for Brazilian football clubs, was quickly apprehended in the ccar park

Hunkarin allegedly admitted to trafficking drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia during his professional football career in South America, but denied ever bringing any into Nigeria.

The NDLEA’s operations expanded beyond Lagos. Amen Okoro, another European-based businessman, was arrested at Lagos International Airport on Friday while attempting to transport 5,000 tramadol 225mg pills disguised as malaria drugs to Spain.

Okoro was apprehended in the departure hall of Terminal 2 during the outward clearance of passengers on a Royal Air Maroc flight to Spain via Casablanca.

Okoro, a goods and logistics businessman, claimed that he planned to transport tramadol to Italy for retail sale before travelling to France by train.

Ezenwaka Chibuzor, a barman from Maputo, Mozambique, was apprehended at Enugu’s Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) with 17.500 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 3.05 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in bedsheets in his luggage.

Another passenger, Azu Kpodar, who arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was apprehended at Enugu airport after being discovered in possession of 1.250 kilogrammes of liquid cocaine concealed in a liquid soap plastic container.

Other operations included the seizure of 29.5 kilogrammes of skunk at the Seme border in Lagos, the arrest of a notorious drug dealer, Mary Oladele, in Kwara State, and the arrest of a 72-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Christy Ejaro, in Delta State, who was carrying skunk sachets.

Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, praised the officers and men wparticipatingin the arrests and seizures, emphasising the importance of a balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction efforts across all commands.