Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Christian Ogbuji, a 48-year-old businessman, for the second time in 16 months, for cocaine trafficking.
Ogbuji was first arrested in May 2023 at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport with 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986kg. He was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N3,000,000.00, which he paid [1).
However, on September 18, 2024, Ogbuji was intercepted at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport with 817 wraps of cocaine, worth N4.656 billion. NDLEA operatives discovered the drugs hidden in a black backpack inside a cleared traveling bag.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, Ogbuji attempted to evade detection by leaving the backpack at the carousel area, unaware of a secondary search. Investigation revealed Ogbuji is a key figure in a drug cartel operating across Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and West Africa.
Key Facts:
- Previous Arrest: May 10, 2023, at Abuja airport
- Previous Conviction: July 13, 2023, with a fine of N3,000,000.00
- Recent Arrest: September 18, 2024, at Lagos airport
- Seized Drugs: 817 wraps of cocaine, worth N4.656 billion
This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of NDLEA to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria.
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