Businessman arrested with H€roin concealed in the bottoms of his travelling bags

On the 4th of March, 2023, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made a significant bust at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. They apprehended a businessman, Kingsley Celestino, who was attempting to leave the country for India with 9.40 kilograms of h€roin. The drug was concealed in false bottoms of his two travelling bags, and Kingsley was travelling in business class on a Qatar Airline flight.

Kingsley, who was born in the Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was found to be carrying a Guinean international passport. This discovery further raised suspicions about his activities and intentions, prompting NDLEA operatives to delve deeper into his background.

According to a statement released by Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of NDLEA, their preliminary investigation revealed that Kingsley frequently travelled to India on business class tickets. He claimed to be involved in the clothing business between Nigeria and India, but the NDLEA is investigating whether this is a front for his drug trafficking activities.

Furthermore, Kingsley claimed to have obtained his Guinean international passport in Guinea Bissau, where he said his mother was from. However, the NDLEA is also investigating the validity of this claim and whether Kingsley has any other nationalities.

Meanwhile, just a few days before Kingsley’s arrest, the NDLEA made another bust at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. On Monday, February 27th, they intercepted a 24-year-old passenger named Etounu Monday who was attempting to export 1.924kg of skunk disguised in cream tubes. Etounu was travelling to Oman on Ethiopian Airline flight ET 950, and the drugs were hidden in plain sight as cosmetic products.

The NDLEA is stepping up its efforts to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria, and these recent arrests are a testament to their determination to keep the country safe from the ravages of drug abuse. They have called on Nigerians to support their efforts by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.

The arrests of Kingsley Celestino and Etounu Monday are a stark reminder of the dangers of drug trafficking and the importance of remaining vigilant in the fight against drug abuse. The NDLEA is working tirelessly to keep Nigeria safe, and we must all do our part to support their efforts.