Christian Ogbuji Arrested for Cocaine Smuggling at Lagos Airport

Reported by
Nneoma Omeje

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Christian Ogbuji at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria. Ogbuji, who had traveled from Uganda via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was apprehended on Tuesday after a second search revealed 19.4 kg of cocaine hidden in a black backpack.

Initially, Ogbuji presented a cleared travel bag to NDLEA operatives, but suspiciously returned to retrieve a second bag. After rechecking, authorities found 817 cocaine pellets in the backpack, which had been concealed inside the bag. The cocaine had been ingested and excreted by traffickers, with the drugs originating from various cartel members in Addis Ababa.

Ogbuji, identified as an unrepentant kingpin in the West African drug trade, was previously convicted in 2023 for smuggling 93 pellets of cocaine. Though sentenced to two years in prison, he opted to pay a fine of 3 million Nigerian Naira (approx. $1,807) to avoid jail time. This arrest highlights Nigeria’s ongoing role as both a transit hub and significant consumer of illicit drugs, particularly in relation to international cartels connecting Brazil, Ethiopia, and other West African countries.