NDLEA uncovers drug shipment hidden in plantain chips packs at Lagos Airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of illicit drugs disguised as plantain chips at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, foiling yet another attempt by traffickers to smuggle narcotics through the country’s busiest air gateway.

The development was made public on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. Babafemi revealed that the seizure was the result of heightened surveillance and routine checks carried out by vigilant NDLEA personnel stationed at the airport.

“Narco-trend update: This consignment was packaged as plantain chips, but inside was skunk, as discovered by vigilant #ndlea_nigeria officers in one of their latest seizures at Lagos airport,” Babafemi wrote.

Photos accompanying his post showed multiple packs resembling ordinary snacks, with the contents carefully disguised to appear inconspicuous.

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However, upon inspection, the packages were found to contain “skunk” — a potent strain of cannabis known for its high psychoactive properties.

The NDLEA spokesman also issued a strong advisory to members of the public, particularly air travelers, urging them to be extremely cautious about accepting parcels or luggage from acquaintances or strangers.

“Always be careful of what you’re given to travel with!” he warned, underscoring a recurrent tactic used by drug traffickers who attempt to exploit unsuspecting individuals as couriers.

This interception adds to a growing list of sophisticated concealment methods employed by drug syndicates, which the NDLEA has continuously countered through improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and advanced scanning technology at major transit points.

The agency reiterated its commitment to rooting out drug trafficking across all ports of entry in Nigeria and pledged to ensure that those involved in this latest attempt are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

As of the time of this report, investigations are ongoing to determine the origin, intended destination, and individuals linked to the intercepted consignment.