Former Nigerian footballer arrested for alleged cocaine smuggling
A former Nigerian football player, Segun Hunkarin, has been arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over his alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Penpushing reports that director of media and advocacy for the agency Femi Babafemi made this known in a statement stating that Hunkarin was arrested alongside his alleged accomplice, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, a businessman known for frequent trips between Turkey and Nigeria.
The former football player was the first to be apprehended on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, upon his arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos from Turkey via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Penpushing further reports that the statement explained that a search of his carry-on bag led to the discovery of 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grams, carefully concealed within the luggage.
“Investigation showed that the suspect was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria, Babafemi wrote.
Penpushing also reports that the statement said Chinedu was not working alone, adding that further intelligence revealed that a second man was waiting to receive the consignment at the airport car park.
The spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed that the accomplice was later identified as Hunkarin, who was promptly tracked and arrested by operatives.
Penpushing reports that the former footballer, who reportedly spent several years playing professionally in Brazil, admitted during interrogation that he had been involved in drug trafficking in the past.
“In his statement, Hunkarin claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia, but had never brought any to Nigeria’, Babafemi stated.
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