20-year-old UK-based Ghanaian university student busted at Lagos Airport with cannabis in suitcases
Ghanaian-British national, Osei Parker
Operatives of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have allegedly arrested a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, Osei Parker, for attempting to smuggle 19.4kg of a potent strain of cannabis.
The London-based student was reportedly arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, on April 3, 2025.
According to reports, during preliminary questioning, the suspect claimed to be a Computer Science student at the University of East London.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, said in a statement on Sunday that operatives of the agency uncovered 36 parcels of the illicit substance hidden inside a large travel bag.
“NDLEA officers of the MMIA Strategic Command on Thursday, April 3, intercepted a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British man, Parker Darren Hazekia Osei, with 36 parcels of loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 19.40kg, packed in a giant travelling bag.
“The suspect, who claims to be a student of Computer Science at the University of East London, UK, was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport.
“In his statement, the suspect said he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok, where he picked up the consignment to deliver in Nigeria,” saharareporters.com quoted him as saying.
In a related development, NDLEA officers in Abia State on Saturday, April 5, arrested a 75-year-old grandfather, Nna Nnanna Felix, with 1.6kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis, during a raid at Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West LGA. Another suspect, David Chinemerem, 21, was also arrested with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine on Tuesday, April 1, at No. 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode Road, Aba.
