The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a renewed caution to travellers across Nigeria, urging them to refrain from carrying any luggage they did not pack themselves or whose contents they do not fully understand. This warning comes in light of recent arrests involving drug trafficking through unsuspecting carriers.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, shared the warning on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, citing a recent incident where a suspect was detained at an airport for attempting to smuggle drugs concealed in a bag that was not his.
In the shared video footage, the suspect admitted to NDLEA operatives that he had accepted the bag from someone else and was unaware of what it contained. Babafemi emphasized, “Please listen to the suspect in this video. He was asked if he packed the bag he was carrying, and he said no, someone gave it to him. As we always warn, never accept to carry a luggage you don’t know its contents if you’re not complicit and an accessory because #ndlea_nigeria will get you.”
This incident underscores the growing trend of drug traffickers exploiting innocent travellers as couriers. The NDLEA’s warning serves as a preventive measure to protect individuals from becoming unwitting accomplices in drug smuggling operations.
Travellers are encouraged to remain vigilant and avoid accepting bags or parcels from unknown sources. The agency reminds the public that ignorance of the contents will not exempt anyone from prosecution under Nigeria’s stringent drug laws.
The NDLEA continues to strengthen its border controls and public awareness campaigns to stem the tide of illicit drug trafficking nationwide.
Watch the video below for the suspect’s statement and the NDLEA’s urgent message to all travellers.