Marijuana Seized From Nigeria-Bound Traveler's Bags At Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — Ten pounds of marijuana were seized by customs officers at Washington Dulles International Airport earlier this month from the baggage of a Nigeria-bound passenger, according to a release.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped a traveler on Jan. 14 as he was about to board a flight to Lagos. Inspecting the man's bags, the officers found two vacuum-packed bags containing a green substance.

The traveler was then taken to the CBP's inspection station, where the substance was tested and determined to have the properties of Tetrahydrocannabinol, according to the release.

CBP officials estimated the street value of the 2 pounds and 4 ounces of marijuana to be about $1,800 in the U.S. and approximately $6,500 in Nigeria. Despite being illegal in Nigeria, marijuana is used for both recreational and medical uses there.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police took possession of the marijuana and cited the traveler on narcotics possession charges, according to the release.

CBP officers at Dulles Airport stopped a Nigeria-bound passenger in October 2022 with more than 10 pounds of marijuana in his baggage.

“It is remarkable that this is a second traveler destined to Nigeria who decided that smuggling marijuana was an acceptable risk considering the travel expense and limited profit potential versus the high probability of being caught by a Customs and Border Protection officer and potential incarceration,” said Kim Der-Yeghiayan, acting area port director for CBP’s Area Port of Washington, D.C., in a release. “Every day, CBP officers diligently inspect international travelers and cargo at Dulles Airport in our continuing hunt for dangerous and illegal products that could potentially harm our citizens and our communities.”

An average of 4,732 pounds of dangerous drugs every day are seized by CBP officers and agents at U.S. ports of entry.