Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Segun George Hunkarin, a former international footballer, alongside his business partner Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu over an attempt to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria through Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the NDLEA, Chinedu, a frequent flyer known for transporting goods between Turkey and Nigeria, was first arrested on June 24, 2025, when 800 grams of cocaine concealed in 37 wraps were “found in his carry-on luggage” upon arrival from Turkey via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Babafemi said the ex-footballer admitted to trafficking drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but denied bringing any drugs into Nigeria.
”Further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be the former professional footballer, Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him,” Babafemi said.
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“Hunkarin who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.
“In his statement, Hunkarin claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but has never brought any to Nigeria.”
On June 27, NDLEA operatives arrested Amen Okoro Godstime, a Europe-based businessman, at Lagos airport while “attempting to smuggle 5,000 tramadol 225mg pills disguised as malaria drugs to Spain”.
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Okoro, involved in freight and logistics between Europe and Nigeria, reportedly planned to transport the drugs from Spain to France and then to Italy for sale.
At Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu, NDLEA operatives intercepted Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel, a 38-year-old bar attendant based in Maputo, Mozambique, with “17.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.05 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage”.
He arrived from Johannesburg via Addis Ababa on June 27.
Also at Enugu airport, 54-year-old toy seller Azu Follygan Kpodar was allegedly caught with 1.25 kilograms of liquid cocaine disguised as liquid soap.
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Kpodar, who arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil, claimed he bought the substance while shopping for his wedding in Nigeria.
At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA arrested Vode Jean-Luck, a 26-year-old Beninese national, on June 24 for allegedly attempting to smuggle 29.5 kilograms of skunk cannabis into Nigeria.
