A Canadian woman has been arrested at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport for attempting to smuggle hard drugs worth billions of Naira.
The arrest has sparked discussions online, with notable Nigerian political figure and activist Shehu Sani commenting on the situation through his verified Twitter account.
Shehu Sani, in his tweet, remarked, “It used to be Nigerians arrested in Canada with drugs. They have started retaliating,” referring to past incidents where Nigerian citizens have been arrested abroad, particularly in Canada, for drug trafficking. Sani’s comment appears to highlight a perceived shift in roles, where foreign nationals are now being apprehended in Nigeria for similar offenses.
The arrest at Lagos Airport has brought attention to Nigeria’s ongoing battle against drug trafficking, a persistent problem that the authorities have been working to combat. While there have been numerous cases involving Nigerians caught trafficking drugs in foreign countries, this incident involving a foreign national in Nigeria marks a significant case.
Nigerian anti-drug agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have increased their vigilance in recent years. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to clamp down on the drug trade, which has often been linked to organized crime and has damaging societal effects.