Traveller Catches Flight Service Official Planting Drugs in Luggage

In a startling incident at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a video has gone viral depicting a traveller confronting a staff member from the flight service company Pathfinder, who was allegedly attempting to plant illicit drugs in the passenger’s luggage.

The video reveals the intense moment when the man slaps the Pathfinder staff member and demands an explanation for the contents of the suspicious package. The official is seen kneeling down to apologize for his actions.

According to reports, the vigilant traveller raised an alarm and recorded a video of the unfolding situation, exposing the flight service official’s attempt to manipulate his bags.

In the video, airport workers can be seen interrogating the flight services official. When confronted, the staff member claimed that someone had paid him to transport the drugs to someone outside Nigeria.

The alarmed traveller, speaking in both English and Pidgin English, expressed his relief at avoiding a potential set-up, stating, “That’s how my life would have gone just like that. Innocent people are jailed daily through these methods, but they jam their match today.”

Reacting to the video, @Gidi_Traffic on Twitter highlighted the potential dangers faced by innocent travellers in such situations, indicating that corrupt operatives might be waiting to arrest them on false charges.

In response to the incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) clarified that the apprehended suspect is not their employee but works for an aviation services company operating within the airport premises. FAAN confirmed that the officer, attempting to transport a parcel through the passenger to Accra, Ghana, has been arrested and handed over to security operatives for interrogation.

The spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, corroborated FAAN’s statement, noting that the suspect is not a staff member of FAAN but an official from the flight service company Pathfinder. Babafemi explained that the suspect was attempting to deliver consignments to others without informing the passenger, emphasizing the importance of passengers being cautious about accepting packages from unknown individuals.

Formal investigations are underway, and the substances found in the parcel have been tested, with one testing positive for tramadol and the other identified as a supplement. The NDLEA has made several arrests related to similar cases. Travelers are urged to exercise vigilance and refrain from accepting packages from unfamiliar sources.

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