An Ex-Convict Who Imported Cocaine Worth 4.6 Billion Dollars Is Arrested

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has detained Christian Ogbuji, a 48-year-old businessman, once more.

On May 10, 2023, Ogbuji was first detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after arriving from Addis Ababa, Uganda, on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951, for consuming 93 1.986 kg cocaine pellets.

On July 13, 2023, he was found guilty after being arraigned before Federal High Court 12 Abuja, which was chaired by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon and had charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023.

Ogbuji received a sentence of two years in prison and a fine of N3,000,000.00.

Ogbuji paid the charge, according to a statement from Femi Babafemi, the agency's spokesperson.

In addition, Ogbuji lost his international passport, fourteen kilograms of cocaine, and When he was arrested, 9000 Ugandan Shillings and US dollars were discovered on him.

But according to Babafemi, Ogbuji was caught once more 16 months later on September 18, 2024, this time for N4.6 billion worth of cocaine.


Babafemi stated: "A 48-year-old businessman named Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji was stopped by NDLEA agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos, for importing 817 wraps of the same Class A drug, weighing 19.40 kilograms with an estimated street value of N4,656,000,000.00, barely 16 months after he was arrested and found guilty for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine."

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, during the inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Lagos, Ogbuji was once more taken into custody at the Lagos airport. The culprit
had come to the joint examination table carrying a black travel bag, which an NDLEA agent checked before clearing the item.

Undoubtedly, Ogbuji crept back to the carousel area and surreptitiously placed a black rucksack he had left on the conveyor belt into the cleared bag. Alert NDLEA officers stopped him as he was leaving the arrival hall and conducted a second search on him.

Subsequently, sizable portions of defecated cocaine were discovered tucked away in the backpack within the black travel bag that had been previously discovered alongside the accused. 817 cocaine pellets totaling 19.40 kg that were excreted by numerous traffickers in Addis Ababa and belonged to various drug gang members were found says by Babafemi in an interview, the suspect stated that he first left the drug-filled backpack at the carousel area as a means of eluding NDLEA agents. He further stated that he was unaware that there might be a follow-up search because he had previously given his bag for inspection and nothing incriminating had been discovered.

According to Babafemi, the suspect stated he needed to get a new passport in order to carry on with his illegal activities.

The results of the investigation show that Ogbuji is an unrepentant kingpin within the network of drug cartels that operate between Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and other countries in the West African subregion, including Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire.
The ex-convict was arrested by Punchng.com for importing cocaine worth N4-6 billion.

 

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