The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former international footballer, Segun George Hunkarin, and his associate, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, in connection with a cocaine smuggling attempt through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu, a frequent traveler known for transporting goods between Turkey and Nigeria, was apprehended on Tuesday, June 24, upon his arrival from Turkey via Ethiopian Airlines. A search of his carry-on bag revealed 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grams concealed inside.

NDLEA’s preliminary investigation showed that Chinedu had picked up the consignment during his layover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hunkarin, a former professional footballer with years of experience playing in Brazil, was found waiting at the airport car park to receive the illicit package. He was immediately arrested.

In a statement to investigators, Hunkarin admitted to previous drug trafficking activities while playing in South America, noting he had twice transported drugs from Brazil to Ethiopia. However, he claimed he had never brought drugs into Nigeria.

In a separate operation at the same airport, NDLEA operatives arrested Europe-based businessman Amen Okoro Godstime on Friday, June 27. Okoro was caught attempting to export 5,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg disguised as malaria medication brands such as Lonart, Amatem, and Aluktem. He was intercepted at Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Spain via Casablanca. He told officials he planned to take a train to France before shipping the drugs to Italy for retail distribution.

At Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, two passengers arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Johannesburg via Addis Ababa were arrested on Friday, June 27, for attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.

Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel, a 38-year-old bar attendant based in Mozambique, was found with 17 parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.5 kilograms and three parcels of cocaine weighing 3.05 kilograms, concealed in bed sheets.

Another passenger on the same flight, Azu Follygan Kpodar, 54, was caught with a container of liquid soap labeled “YPE,” which tested positive for liquid cocaine weighing 1.25 kilograms. Kpodar, a toy merchant based in São Paulo, Brazil, claimed he had bought the substance during wedding preparations in Nigeria.

Elsewhere, in the Seme border area of Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested a 26-year-old Beninese national, Vode Jean-Luck, on June 24 while attempting to smuggle 69 balls of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, into Nigeria. The consignment had a total weight of 29.5 kilograms.

In Kwara State, suspected drug dealer Mary Bolanle Oladele, widely known as “Iya Nafi,” was arrested on Wednesday, June 25, during a raid in Omu-Aran, Irepodun LGA. Officers recovered various quantities of skunk, Tramadol, and Flunitrazepam from her base.

In a related operation in Delta State, a 72-year-old woman, Christy Ejaro, was arrested on Tuesday, June 24, in the Niger CAT area of Warri. Several sachets of skunk packaged in retail sizes were seized from her.
The agency said all suspects remain in custody pending further investigations and prosecution.