There has been a recent increase in drug trafficking incidents into Nigeria, notably since the COVID-19 pandemic, positioning Nigeria’s coastline as a significant transit hub within the Gulf of Guinea. Several concealment techniques have been listed as common ways to smuggle these narcotics across sea, including:
- The placement of drugs inside and around cargo, inside the container structures themselves, or within areas of the ships designed for concealment.
- Hidden in vehicles transported on carriers or within bulk cargo such as, grain, coal, ore, and sugar.
- Inside areas such as ballast tanks, void spaces, storerooms, accommodation, machinery, and equipment spaces.
- Wielded or affixed to underwater areas such as sea chests and the hull.
Nigeria’s position as a high-risk destination area has been attributed to various factors including, the high volume of cargo, limited screening time, dearth in inter-agency coordination, use of secondary ports, and corrupt practices and insider dealings.
Comprehensive guidance has been provided by Femi Atoyebi and Co, Candide-Johnson Law Practice, and FO AKinrele & Company.