Nigerian authorities confiscate $3m worth of cocaine at Lagos airport.

Nigerian authorities seized a significant quantity of cocaine valued at almost $3 million at Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport, underscoring the country's growing role in global drug trafficking. The 19.4 kg (42.77 lbs) of cocaine, found in 817 wraps, was confiscated from a 48-year-old Nigerian businessman who had just arrived from Ethiopia. The man had been convicted for drug trafficking last year but avoided jail by paying a fine.

Nigeria, with over 200 million people, has seen a troubling transformation in recent years. Once primarily a transit hub for drug cartels moving narcotics between South America and Europe, the country has evolved into both a significant consumer and distributor of illegal drugs. Authorities, led by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), are working to disrupt the operations of drug cartels. NDLEA Chief Mohammed Buba Marwa emphasized that the agency remains committed to combatting the influence of these criminal networks.

The arrest highlights Nigeria's ongoing struggle with drug trafficking, with the NDLEA frequently intercepting large drug shipments at airports and seaports. As drug consumption rises domestically, the government faces the dual challenge of combating both local demand and the international narcotics trade flowing through the country.