Two Nigerian nationals were arrested in July in Beirut, Lebanon, for allegedly smuggling 156 capsules of cocaine, weighing approximately three kilograms and valued at over $500,000.

The suspects reportedly ingested the drugs before their arrest at a hotel in the Kesrouan district, located north of Beirut.

According to Lebanese news outlet L’Orient Today, the arrests were made by Lebanon’s Central Bureau for Drug Control. The agency revealed that it had been investigating an international network recruiting individuals to transport cocaine into Lebanon, with the trafficking route passing from Nigeria through Ethiopia.

The Internal Security Forces (ISF) identified the arrested individuals as R. A. (born 1996) and L. N. (born 1977). They arrived at Beirut’s international airport in the early hours of July 24, 2025.

“They had ingested cocaine capsules and headed straight to a hotel in Kesrouan, where they intended to extract the drugs and hand them over to a local dealer,” the ISF said in a statement.

Authorities, who had been monitoring the suspects, apprehended them while attempting to offload the capsules. A total of 156 capsules containing pure cocaine were recovered, with an estimated street value exceeding $500,000.

The ISF also noted that this seizure followed a similar incident on May 22, when another individual was intercepted at the Beirut airport while attempting to smuggle drugs from an African country. The narcotics were concealed in both his luggage and swallowed capsules.

Meanwhile, reports indicate a growing number of Nigerians being arrested abroad for various crimes, including drug trafficking, cyber fraud, and human trafficking. Just last month, Ghanaian authorities confirmed the arrest of around 50 Nigerians in Accra’s Ga South Municipality for alleged cybercrime and human trafficking. The property owner housing the suspects was also taken into custody.