Businessman Arrested at Abuja Airport for Alleged Drug Trafficking While Heading to Paris

A businessman is arrested at Abuja Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking as he attempts to board a flight to Paris, with authorities launching an investigation.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja apprehended Orizu Arthur, a 48-year-old businessman from Nigeria, for allegedly swallowing 74 wraps containing heroin and cocaine.

The suspect was intercepted during passenger clearance at the boarding gate as they prepared to board Air France Flight 844 to Paris on Sunday, December 22, 2024. This information was revealed by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi in a statement released on that same day.

Babafemi mentioned that when he was asked to undergo a body scan, he refused the request, stating that his medical condition would not permit it.

He was subsequently taken into custody for observation, during which he excreted a total of 74 packets of Class A drugs over seven days.

In his statement, Orizu asserted that he owns a shop at Balogun Market on Lagos Island where he deals in school and travel bags. He mentioned being promised 3,000 Euros for the successful delivery of a consignment in Paris. To avoid detection, he departed from Lagos to Abuja airport to catch his Air France flight to Paris.