Woman travelling to Saudi Arabia intercepted with drugs concealed in palm oil keg

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians against accepting parcels or luggage from other people for delivery after intercepting a woman travelling to Saudi Arabia with illicit drugs concealed inside a keg of palm oil.

The woman was reportedly given the keg by another person and asked to deliver it to a recipient in Saudi Arabia. NDLEA operatives discovered the drug packages concealed inside the container at the airport before she could complete the journey.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, issued the warning in a public alert shared on social media, accompanied by a video showing officers removing wrapped packages from the keg.

Babafemi cautioned travellers against carrying items on behalf of friends, relatives or acquaintances without verifying their contents, stressing that traffickers could exploit personal relationships to move illegal substances across international borders.

“We’ll never be tired of repeating this warning: Never accept any parcel or luggage from anyone or on behalf of anyone no matter how close!” Babafemi wrote.

He also warned of the potentially severe consequences the woman could have faced if the drugs had been discovered by Saudi Arabian authorities.

“She’ll have been counting her days on earth by now if this was discovered in Saudi,” he said.

The NDLEA spokesperson urged Nigerians to prioritise their safety and freedom over concerns about offending people who ask them to transport packages.

“Choose to offend the person than go to jail. Be wise” he added.

The incident highlights the risks Nigerian travellers may face when agreeing to carry sealed packages or luggage without knowing what is inside, particularly when travelling to countries with strict drug laws.

Saudi Arabia enforces severe penalties for drug-related offences, making the discovery particularly serious for anyone found transporting prohibited substances into the country.

The agency urged Nigerians to share its warning with family members and friends to help prevent unsuspecting travellers from being used as couriers in international drug trafficking.

Travellers are advised to decline requests to transport items when they cannot independently establish what the packages contain, rather than risk legal consequences for carrying illicit substances across borders.