Drug Trafficking: Court Jails Clearing Agent, Orders Forfeiture Of 3 Vehicles

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a clearing agent, Olisaemeka Okoli, to three years in prison for illegally importing 610.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica, commonly known as marijuana, into Nigeria.

Justice Kakaki jailed Okoli after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge related to the prohibited drug importation.

The defendant, who was arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was accused of importing the illicit drugs through Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

The agency claimed that on April 30, 2026, at Hanover Warehouse, Tin Can Island Port, the defendant illegally imported 610.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica by hiding the substance inside three Toyota Sienna vehicles loaded into a container marked HLBU3119600.

The NDLEA also maintained that the offence violates Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

After the guilty plea, the prosecutor, Adekunle Adebajo, reviewed the facts of the case and presented several exhibits in support of the charge.

Adebajo also urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant and to forfeit the three vehicles used to conceal the drugs.

The defence, while pleading for leniency, asked the court to show mercy, claiming the convict was a victim of circumstances.

However, Justice Kakaki ruled that the prosecution proved its case and sentenced the clearing agent to three years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.

The judge also ordered the three Toyota Sienna vehicles involved in the concealment to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The vehicles have the following Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs): 5TDZA29C465388871, SYDZA23C545189933, and 5TDZA23C255251399.