Fugitive Drug Kingpin, Ex International Footballer Jailed 24 Years for Cocaine Importation

A fugitive drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, and former international footballer, Hunkarin Segun George have been sentenced to a combined 24 years in prison for unlawfully importing cocaine into Nigeria.

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted the duo over the importation of 7.050 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Chinedu was first arraigned in 2015 over the importation of 6.250 kilogrammes of cocaine but allegedly jumped bail during trial and remained at large for nearly 10 years.

He was rearrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in June 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to smuggle 800 grammes of cocaine into the country.

According to the NDLEA, Hunkarin, a former professional footballer who spent years playing in Brazil, was waiting at the airport car park to receive the consignment from Chinedu and was subsequently arrested.

The two men were later arraigned over the 800 grammes of cocaine and convicted after trial.

Justice Kakaki sentenced both men to a combined 24 years imprisonment without an option of fine.