The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has addressed a video circulating on social media, of a man allegedly attempting to smuggle medication aboard an Air Ibom flight, insiting that the said person is not a staff of the airport regulator.
In a recent incident at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at around 1430hrs, the individual was accosted by a passenger who suspected him of attempting to traffic drugs.
FAAN management clarified that the individual in the video is not a staff of FAAN but a member of the Pathfinder company. The incident unfolded at ‘gate 2’ boarding gate at ITZ2. The Pathfinder employee approached a passenger, seeking assistance to convey a parcel through the flight. The passenger, expressing suspicion, raised an alarm, alleging an attempted setup for drug trafficking.
Prompt action was taken as the employee was immediately arrested for questioning by the crime investigation and intelligence unit of the Aviation Security Services. The involved passenger has since departed on Ibom Air to Accra, while the medication, identified as “New Age Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate Complex,” has been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
The director of public affairs and consumer protection at FAAN, Mrs. Obiageli Orah emphasised the organisation’s commitment to a drug-free society and reiterated their zero-tolerance policy for drug peddling through airport facilities. This incident reflects the vigilance and collaborative efforts of airport security personnel in maintaining the integrity of air travel and passenger safety.
