TheCable

About 45 Nigerians are in detention in Ethiopia for alleged drug trafficking and related offences, a top official of the Nigerian embassy in Addis Ababa has revealed.

According to the official, who spoke with NAN without revealing his/her name, 18 are serving various jail terms of between five and 14 years for similar offences.

The official said the suspected traffickers — seven of them are ladies — were arrested within a period of five months while on transit through the Addis Ababa international airport from countries in South America, and are presently being held in various detention facilities within the city.

According to the official, various kilogrammes of substances suspected to be cocaine, heroin and other similar drugs were found on the suspects, who are awaiting trial in accordance with international laws on trafficking of drugs and other-related offenses.

“The embassy confirmed that one of the suspects died of drugs complications in his organs few days after his arrested,” the official said.

The suspects are expected to be arraigned in courts soon, in accordance with international laws on drugs trafficking.