Nigerian Citizen Arrested in Bogotá for Drug Trafficking Pleads Guilty to Trafficking, Manufacturing, or Possession of Narcotics (Video)

Colombian authorities, in collaboration with the FBI, have arrested a Nigerian national, Joseph Chinedu Okparaejesi, alias Alen, a suspected transnational drug trafficker, at El Dorado

Joseph Chinedu Okparaejesi, a Nigerian national, was arrested at El Dorado Airport in Bogotá while attempting to board a flight from São Paulo, Brazil. The arrest was carried out under a court order obtained by the Attorney General’s Office.

Okparaejesi, also known as Alen, is suspected of leading a transnational criminal organization involved in smuggling cocaine to Spain using human couriers. Evidence suggests that he financed the purchase of narcotics and orchestrated the smuggling operation, which included recruiting and preparing couriers, modifying suitcases with hidden compartments, and managing the logistics for transporting the drugs from Latin America to Europe.

A joint investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dijín), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uncovered Okparaejesi’s alleged involvement in similar activities across Latin America. His role was further implicated when authorities arrested a man attempting to travel to Madrid from El Dorado Airport with cocaine concealed in his luggage.

As a result of the investigation, 15 individuals, including travelers and members of the criminal network, have been apprehended. A prosecutor from the Specialized Directorate formally charged Okparaejesi with drug trafficking, manufacturing, or possession of narcotics. He pleaded guilty to the charges and has been ordered to serve a prison sentence.