The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has issued a public warning to Nigerians, cautioning that accepting packages sent from abroad without full knowledge of their contents could result in arrest, prosecution and imprisonment.
The warning was shared on X on Sunday, April 10, by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who explained that drug traffickers operating overseas have developed a pattern of concealing illicit substances inside shipments and listing unsuspecting relatives or friends in Nigeria as the designated recipients.
According to Babafemi, when such consignments are intercepted and the named recipient collects the package, that individual automatically assumes criminal liability for possession and conspiracy under Nigerian law, regardless of whether they were aware of the contents.
He urged anyone who must receive a cargo on behalf of someone abroad to first verify every item in the shipment, recommending that recipients request a recorded video call with the sender at the point of packaging as a safeguard. Where that is not possible, he advised people to decline accepting the package entirely, irrespective of any financial incentive offered.
“Some criminal minds will stay abroad and send consignments used to conceal illicit drugs and then make their family members or close friends as consignees who will receive the cargoes on their behalf from courier companies,” Babafemi wrote. “When you’re arrested with the consignment here as the designated receiver of the goods, you bear the criminal liability of possession and conspiracy with jail as the end.”
The warning was accompanied by a recent example in which NDLEA operatives intercepted illicit drugs that had been hidden inside imported snacks. A video showing the moment the drugs were discovered inside the snack packaging has also been released by the agency.
Babafemi urged Nigerians to share the warning widely to prevent others from unknowingly becoming instruments of drug trafficking networks.
Watch the video below.
