Former Nigerian Footballer Arrested in Cocaine Smuggling Bust.

Former Nigerian Footballer Arrested in Cocaine Smuggling Bust.

Nigeria – Crime & Punishment.

The News as It Trends.

Former Nigerian international footballer Segun George Hunkarin and his business associate Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport for attempting to smuggle 800 grams of cocaine into Nigeria.

Chinedu, a frequent traveler between Turkey and Nigeria, was caught with 37 wraps of cocaine in his carry-on luggage after arriving from Turkey via Addis Ababa.

NDLEA agents later tracked Hunkarin, who had played professionally in Brazil, waiting in the airport car park to collect the drugs.

Hunkarin admitted to trafficking drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but denied smuggling into Nigeria.

The NDLEA says the arrests highlight growing concerns over drug trafficking networks involving former athletes and international smuggling routes.

What Happens If Segun George Hunkarin Is Convicted?

According to legal analysts, if convicted of cocaine trafficking under Nigerian law, Hunkarin faces severe penalties under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

According to the NDLEA Act (Amended 2004), possession or trafficking of cocaine is punishable by a minimum of 15 years to life imprisonment.

In cases involving large quantities or organized smuggling, courts often impose life sentences or long-term imprisonment without the option of a fine.

The law does not distinguish between first-time and repeat offenders when it comes to hard drugs like cocaine.

In Hunkarin’s case, his admission to previous trafficking activity could be used to establish a pattern of criminal behavior.

If convicted, both men could face at least 15 years in prison, and possibly more, depending on how the court interprets the scale and intent of the operation.