Nigerians Risk Arrest Over Unknown Overseas Packages, NDLEA Warns

Receiving an overseas package on behalf of a friend or relative could expose unsuspecting Nigerians to arrest if prohibited substances are discovered inside the consignment.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raised the concern while warning Nigerians against accepting cargoes whose contents they cannot verify.

The agency said some shipments are allegedly being contaminated with illicit drugs before being sent to Nigeria.

According to the NDLEA, unsuspecting family members and friends are sometimes listed as recipients of the consignments.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, issued the warning on Sunday through a post on X.

He said some Nigerians abroad were allegedly sending cargoes containing Colorado and Loud to relatives and friends in Nigeria.

Babafemi warned that people who accept such consignments could face arrest and prosecution if the packages are found to contain illegal drugs.

He urged Nigerians not to accept consignments for people abroad unless they know the full contents.

The spokesperson said many people were already behind bars over similar incidents, adding that the number was increasing as NDLEA officers continued their operations.

The agency’s warning was accompanied by video footage showing officers examining packages wrapped in black plastic.

During the operation, clear plastic bags containing yellowish, lumpy substances were found inside the packages.

The NDLEA identified the seized substances as cannabis products.

The development highlights the challenges faced by law-enforcement agencies in monitoring international drug trafficking routes.

Consolidated cargoes allow goods belonging to different individuals to be transported together. However, according to the NDLEA, such arrangements can also be exploited to conceal prohibited substances.

People whose names appear as consignees may subsequently be exposed to investigation when illegal drugs are discovered in a shipment.

The agency therefore urged Nigerians to be cautious whenever they are asked to receive goods from abroad.

The NDLEA also warned Nigerians living abroad to ensure that any consignments they send are free from prohibited substances.

The agency said Nigerians should avoid accepting packages when they cannot establish what has been placed inside them.

The latest alert is intended to prevent unsuspecting Nigerians from becoming entangled in drug trafficking cases.

The NDLEA urged the public to take the warning seriously and avoid receiving unknown cargoes.