The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria arrested a South African man, Erasmus Jean Pierre, aged 29, on August 23 for attempting to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of methamphetamine out of the country. The arrest took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Pierre was apprehended by NDLEA operatives during the clearance process for passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 404 bound for the Middle East via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The illicit substance, concealed in his luggage, was discovered during a thorough search of his bags. The methamphetamine was found factory-packed in various sections of his luggage.
According to NDLEA, the suspect arrived in Lagos from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on August 19, and then travelled to Abuja on August 22. He reportedly collected the bag containing the drugs on August 23 before heading to the Abuja airport for his flight out of Nigeria, where he was arrested.
The NDLEA is a Nigerian government agency responsible for tackling drug trafficking and abuse within the country. This incident is another example of the ongoing efforts to curb drug smuggling and related criminal activities in Nigeria and the region.