Chinedu Ezeh 
Two notorious drug traffickers, Uwaezuoke Christian and Agbo Prince, have received life sentences from the Federal High Court in Abuja for their involvement in an extensive cocaine smuggling operation spanning multiple continents. The announcement was made by Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a statement released on Sunday.
Uwaezuoke Christian’s criminal activities came to light in 2022 when he was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine. Despite being granted bail after pleading not guilty, he fled and was later re-arrested in 2023 attempting to smuggle cocaine to India under a different identity. After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to seven years in prison but was subsequently re-arraigned in Abuja where he pleaded guilty again and was handed a life sentence due to his lack of remorse and repeat offenses.
Agbo Prince, aged 42, was also caught at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport attempting to transport cocaine to Hong Kong. He pleaded guilty and received a life sentence for his involvement in the drug trade.
These convictions come as part of the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria. The agency’s Chairman, retired Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa, previously disclosed that in 2023 alone, 15 drug kingpins were successfully prosecuted and convicted, collectively receiving 168 years in prison.
