The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended former international football player Segun George Hunkarin and his business partner, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria.
The arrest occurred at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Chinedu was first arrested on June 24, 2025, upon arrival at the MMIA, with 37 wraps of cocaine totaling 800 grams hidden in his carry-on bag.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Segun George, a former footballer, in connection with the smuggling attempt. The agency is working to uncover the full extent of the smuggling operation and potential accomplices.
Speaking to reporters about his arrest, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said that Chinedu, a frequent traveller who transports clothing from Turkey to Nigeria and food from Nigeria to Turkey, was the first person arrested when he arrived at the Lagos airport on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. When his carry-on bag was searched, 37 wraps of cocaine totalling 800 grams were found hidden inside.
‘’Investigation showed that the suspect was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria. Further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be the former professional footballer, Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him. Hunkarin who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.''he said
According to Babafemi, Hunkarin said in his statement that he had only moved drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia while playing professional football in the South American nation, but he had never brought any to Nigeria.
