Airport Official Arrested Over Attempt To Smuggle Drug Onboard Flight

An official of Partfinder International Limited, an aviation security company, has been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, over an attempt to dispatch suspected illicit drug through a departing Ibom Air flight to Accra, Ghana.

In a statement by the Director Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, the employee was said to have approached a passenger to help him convey a parcel through the flight.

But, the passenger became sceptical and raised the alarm, alleging that he was being set up for drug trafficking.

“The attention  of the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has been  drawn  to a video circulating on social  media  where a supposed staff of  the Authority  was knelt  down  and was being  slapped  by a passenger  for trying  to use him to traffic drug.

“It has been  identified  that  the incident  took place  at  the  Murtala  Muhammed International Airport  on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at about 1430 hours at gate 2  boarding gate at ITZ2.”

“The Authority  wishes to  set the records straight  by stating  that the  officer being manhandled in the video is not a   staff of FAAN. He has been  identified  as  a member of the staff of Pathfinder company.”

“The employee was said to have approached a passenger to help him convey a parcel through the flight. When the passenger became sceptical ,he raised an alarm, alleging that he was being set up for drug trafficking.”

FAAN spokesperson, however, disclosed that the passenger involved was arrested for further questioning while the passenger involved boarded his flight to Ghana.

“The employee was immediately arrested for questioning by the Crime Investigation and Intelligence Unit of the Aviation Security Services. The passenger  involved has since departed on  Ibom  Air to Accra while the medication  with the name ‘NEW AGE GLUCOSAMINE CHONDROITIN SULFATE COMPLEX’ has been  taken  to the National  Drug Law Enforcement  Agency ( NDLEA) for further  investigation.

“FAAN is dedicated to a drug-free society and has zero tolerance to drug peddling through her airports.”