A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has sentenced an Indian national, Neetu Neetu, to five years in prison for attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of heroin disguised as chocolate into Nigeria through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
Neetu, aged 42, was arrested on March 14, 2025, during a security clearance at the airport’s arrival hall, following intelligence received by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). She had arrived on Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha.
The drugs, sealed in 72 parcels, were cleverly disguised in wafer wrappers and chocolate packaging. A meticulous search of her luggage led to the shocking discovery. She was subsequently charged in case number FHC/KN/CR/65/2025 before Justice Simon Amobeda, who handed down the sentence.
In his judgment, Justice Amobeda sentenced Neetu to 10 years on two separate counts with the option of paying a N2 million fine. However, the jail terms will run concurrently, effectively making her sentence five years.
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The NDLEA has once again warned drug traffickers that Nigeria will not be a safe haven for illicit drug smuggling. Spokespersons from the agency commended the vigilance of airport security and emphasized that NDLEA would continue its crackdown on transnational drug cartels using Nigeria as a gateway.
Neetu’s arrest and conviction come as Nigerian authorities increase surveillance and inter-agency cooperation at major ports of entry, targeting foreign and local individuals involved in large-scale trafficking.
This case serves as a stern reminder of the stiff consequences that await anyone who attempts to bring drugs into the country, regardless of nationality.
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