The suspect, who had flown into Pakistan from Nigeria via Dubai, was found with 38 cocaine-filled capsules hidden in his stomach, The Express Tribune reports.

A Nigerian national faces drug smuggling charges after Anti-Narcotics Force’s (ANF) Lahore International Airport operation uncovered concealed cocaine capsules.

The suspect, who had flown into Pakistan from Nigeria via Dubai, was found with 38 cocaine-filled capsules hidden in his stomach, The Express Tribune reports.

According to ANF spokesperson, a total of 608 grams of cocaine was recovered from the capsules.

This arrest underscores a worrisome and accelerating trend in transnational drug smuggling, with foreign nationals playing a significant role. 

Notably, Nigerian nationals have been disproportionately represented in these cases, with 10 individuals apprehended in 2023, and a remarkable 4.811 kilograms of contraband seized, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation.

Thus far in the current year, law enforcement agencies have undertaken a series of rigorous operations, totaling seven, which have yielded significant results in the fight against narcotics trafficking. 

Specifically, these efforts have led to the successful apprehension of eight Nigerian individuals, accompanied by the substantial seizure of 11.420 kilograms of illicit substances.