Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have reportedly arrested a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, Osei Parker, for attempting to smuggle 19.4 kilograms of a potent strain of cannabis into Nigeria.
Parker, a London-based student, was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, on April 3, 2025.
During initial interrogation, the suspect claimed to be a Computer Science student at the University of East London.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that officers discovered 36 parcels of the illegal substance concealed within a large travel bag.
“NDLEA officers of the MMIA Strategic Command on Thursday, April 3, intercepted a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British man, Parker Darren Hazekia Osei, with 36 parcels of loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 19.40kg, packed in a giant travelling bag.
“The suspect, who claims to be a student of Computer Science at the University of East London, UK, was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport.
“In his statement, the suspect said he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok, where he picked up the consignment to deliver in Nigeria,” saharareporters.com quoted him as saying.
In a related development, NDLEA officers in Abia State on Saturday, April 5, arrested a 75-year-old grandfather, Nna Nnanna Felix, with 1.6kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis, during a raid at Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West LGA. Another suspect, David Chinemerem, 21, was also arrested with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine on Tuesday, April 1, at No. 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode Road, Aba.
