A 54-year-old Lagos-based businessman, Paul Okwuy Mbadugha, has been apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The arrest, which occurred during the outward clearance of a Qatar Airways flight, revealed Mbadugha’s involvement in smuggling cocaine.
Paul Okwuy Mbadugha was detained by NDLEA operatives at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 12 August 2024. The businessman, who was en route to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha on Qatar Airways flight QR 1432, was intercepted at the boarding gate after testing positive for ingesting cocaine.
Mbadugha was placed under close observation for four days following his arrest. During this period, he excreted 88 wraps of cocaine, which collectively weighed 1.710 kilograms. The NDLEA’s swift action in intercepting Mbadugha prevented the illicit drugs from being smuggled into Vietnam.
Upon interrogation, Mbadugha disclosed that he was a businessman operating out of Lagos State. He claimed that a friend in the Isolo area had provided him with the cocaine pellets, instructing him to deliver them in Vietnam. Mbadugha was allegedly promised a fee of $2,000 for successfully transporting the drugs.
The arrest of Mbadugha underscores the NDLEA’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria. The agency remains vigilant in its mission to prevent the smuggling of illicit substances, particularly through major international airports. This latest incident highlights the ongoing challenge posed by drug traffickers who employ increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings