NDLEA Sounds Alarm Again, Urges Travellers to Avoid Unknown Luggage as Smuggling Tactics Evolve

 

Heightened security concerns at Nigeria’s international airports have prompted a fresh and urgent appeal from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), aimed directly at air travellers. The agency has stressed the importance of refusing to carry luggage that one did not pack personally or whose contents remain uncertain. This comes in light of a recent interception by NDLEA operatives involving a traveller who was allegedly caught attempting to traffic drugs hidden inside a bag that, as he claimed, was handed to him by another person.

Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for NDLEA, took to his verified X account, formerly known as Twitter, to deliver the message. In a strongly worded post on Sunday, Babafemi highlighted the dangers of blindly accepting luggage from acquaintances, friends or even strangers, especially when travelling through Nigeria’s high-surveillance transportation hubs. According to him, the consequences are often dire, even for individuals who claim ignorance of the bag’s contents.

A video clip accompanied Babafemi’s online post, showing a suspect in custody being questioned by NDLEA officers. During the interrogation, the man candidly admitted that he had not packed the bag himself. He further revealed that it was given to him by another individual, whose identity was not disclosed at the time of the video release. Babafemi seized the moment to emphasize a long-standing warning by the agency.

“Please listen to the suspect in this video,” Babafemi wrote in his post. “He was asked if he packed the bag he was carrying, and he said no, someone gave it to him. As we always warn, never accept to carry a luggage you don’t know its contents if you’re not complicit and an accessory, because #ndlea_nigeria will get you.”

This public message is part of a broader campaign NDLEA has maintained over the years, warning Nigerians and international travellers against unknowingly participating in drug trafficking schemes. These warnings have become even more necessary as smugglers increasingly attempt to exploit unsuspecting individuals to move illegal substances, often disguising their methods under the guise of friendly or familial trust.

Several previous cases have shown how individuals became entangled in legal troubles simply by carrying a bag for someone else. In many of those instances, the accused persons were either unaware of the illicit contents or naïvely believed the items posed no risk. However, ignorance does not always serve as a defence in court, and the consequences can range from prolonged detention to lengthy prison terms.

Airport authorities have also been urged to double their vigilance, while travel agencies have been reminded of their responsibility to educate their clients on these safety and legal concerns. The issue, experts say, is as much about public awareness as it is about enforcement.

According to security analysts, the use of "mules" or unwitting couriers is a tactic long favored by drug cartels. In some cases, these individuals are deliberately targeted because of their clean criminal records, their trustworthiness in the eyes of law enforcement or simply their desperation for money or assistance. Others are victims of manipulation or fear, choosing to carry a bag to avoid disappointing someone close to them, only to end up in police custody.

A spokesperson for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who requested anonymity, noted that incidents involving unverified luggage have decreased slightly due to increased awareness. However, he also acknowledged that many travellers still underestimate the level of scrutiny they are subjected to, especially at international departure points.

He said, “People think that just because they’re not behaving suspiciously, they won’t be searched. But with modern security technology, including full-body scanners and canine units, it’s almost impossible to pass through with contraband. The issue becomes more problematic when a person claims not to have packed the bag, because now you have a suspect who is either lying or has been manipulated.”

Travellers have been urged not only to pack their own bags but to maintain custody of their luggage throughout their journey. Even temporary separation from one’s bags can create opportunities for tampering, making it difficult for an individual to prove non-involvement later.

As NDLEA continues to battle the complex web of narcotics trafficking across Nigeria’s borders, the agency has reiterated that all travellers bear a personal responsibility for what they carry. This personal accountability, Babafemi says, is critical for both safety and legal protection.

He added that NDLEA operatives are trained to detect inconsistencies in traveller statements, suspicious behaviours and concealed contraband. Therefore, claims of innocence must be supported by proactive caution rather than after-the-fact explanations.

“There’s always a cost to negligence,” Babafemi said in a follow-up interview. “Even if you didn’t know what was inside the bag, you carried it. That action alone places you in a compromised legal position. Don’t let sympathy or familiarity cost you your freedom.”

Beyond individual responsibility, the NDLEA has also called on parents and guardians to educate their wards and dependents about this risk. Young adults, especially those travelling for the first time, are considered particularly vulnerable to such mistakes.

The agency plans to launch additional awareness programs at major airports and on social media platforms. These campaigns aim to reinforce the message that ignorance does not absolve one of criminal liability.

Nigeria remains one of the key points of concern in West Africa’s fight against drug trafficking, with both local and international smugglers attempting to move narcotics through its borders. The NDLEA continues to work with global partners to track trends, intercept suspicious shipments and prosecute offenders.

As the warning from the agency goes viral, travellers are being reminded once again: if you didn’t pack it, don’t carry it. A single moment of poor judgment can result in years of legal complications and irreversible reputational damage.