Ethiopia Detains 45 Nigerians for Alleged Drug Trafficking

ADDIS ABABA (NAN) ―No fewer than 45 Nigerian nationals are being detained by the Ethiopian authorities for alleged drugs trafficking and related offences, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A top official of the Embassy of Nigeria in Addis Ababa, who preferred not be mentioned, told NAN that the suspected traffickers, including seven ladies, were arrested at the Addis Ababa International Airport within a period of five months.

The suspects are being detained in various detention facilities within the city while awaiting trial in accordance with international laws on trafficking of drugs and other related offences.

The embassy official said the suspected traffickers were on transit through the Addis Ababa Airport from countries in South America being points of origin.

The official said most of the suspects were heading to Nigeria and some countries in West Africa being their destination points.

NAN learnt that various kilogrammes of substances suspected to be cocaine, heroin and other similar drugs were found on the suspects and their luggage by scanners and electronic detectors at the airport.

The embassy had confirmed that one of the suspects had died of drugs complications in his organs few days after he was arrested.

The officials, who visited the suspects in the various facilities within the city, confirmed that they would soon be arraigned in courts according to international law on drugs trafficking.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 18 Nigerians, including four ladies, are serving various jail terms of between five and 14 years by the Ethiopian authorities for similar offence.