Amanze ChinonyeA former Nigerian international footballer, Segun George Hunkarin, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, over his alleged involvement in a cocaine smuggling operation.
Hunkarin was arrested at the airport’s car park after NDLEA officers intercepted his suspected accomplice, Emmanuel Chinedu, who had just arrived from Turkey via Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A search of Chinedu’s hand luggage led to the discovery of 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grams concealed in his carry-on bag.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, investigations revealed that Chinedu collected the consignment during a stopover in Addis Ababa before proceeding to Nigeria, where he was expected to hand it over to Hunkarin, who was waiting outside the terminal.
“Hunkarin was promptly tracked and arrested at the car park,” Babafemi said. “He admitted to previously trafficking drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia during his football career, but denied ever bringing any consignment into Nigeria.”
Segun Hunkarin, once a promising football talent, played professionally for several years in Brazil, where he featured for a number of local clubs. He also earned international caps with the Nigerian national team, though his career remained largely under the radar compared to more prominent stars of his era.
NDLEA officials say Hunkarin’s confession points to possible exploitation of his international travel history and cross-border connections to facilitate illicit drug trade. The agency is now investigating whether his sporting background and movement across South America and Africa enabled deeper ties to narcotics trafficking syndicates.
The arrest was part of a coordinated operation by NDLEA officers at both Lagos and Enugu international airports, which led to the seizure of over 22.6 kilograms of illicit substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, tramadol, and cannabis.
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Other suspects arrested in separate incidents include Amen Okoro, a Europe-based businessman caught with 5,000 pills of tramadol disguised as malaria medication; Ezenwaka Chibuzor, a bar attendant arriving from Johannesburg, found with 17.5kg of methamphetamine and 3kg of cocaine concealed in bedsheets; and Azu Kpodar, who arrived from São Paulo, Brazil, caught with 1.25kg of liquid cocaine disguised in a soap container.
Also arrested were a 26-year-old Beninese national, Jean-Luck Vode, intercepted at the Seme border with 29.5kg of cannabis; and a notorious female dealer, Mary Oladele a.k.a. Iya Nafi, as well as a 72-year-old grandma, Christy Ejaro, arrested in separate raids in Kwara and Delta States.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their diligence and warned that no status or former glory would shield offenders.
“Whether it’s a former athlete, businessman or first-time trafficker, we remain committed to dismantling all drug trafficking networks threatening Nigeria’s security and reputation,” Marwa said.
Hunkarin and Chinedu remain in NDLEA custody and are expected to be formally charged in the coming days.
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