The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended former Nigerian international footballer Segun George Hunkarin and his associate, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country through Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Chinedu was first intercepted on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, upon arriving from Turkey via an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A search of his carry-on luggage uncovered 37 parcels of cocaine weighing 800 grams. Investigations revealed that Chinedu, a frequent traveler who normally deals in clothing and food exports between Nigeria and Turkey, had collected the drug-laden bag during a stopover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Further surveillance led NDLEA operatives to the airport parking lot, where Hunkarin, a former professional footballer who played for clubs in Brazil, was waiting to receive the illicit consignment. During interrogation, Hunkarin reportedly confessed to having previously smuggled drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia during his playing career but denied ever bringing narcotics into Nigeria.
The arrests highlight ongoing concerns about international drug trafficking networks exploiting air travel routes. NDLEA officials emphasized that the agency remains vigilant in monitoring suspicious travel patterns, particularly involving frequent flyers and transit passengers.
Hunkarin’s involvement has drawn particular attention given his past status as a professional athlete. The case underscores how criminal organisations sometimes recruit individuals with clean travel records or public profiles to bypass security checks.
The footballer and his accomplice now face prosecution under Nigeria’s strict anti-drug laws, which prescribe severe penalties, including lengthy prison terms, for convicted traffickers. The NDLEA has warned that it will continue intensifying surveillance at all entry points to combat the flow of illegal substances into the country.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
