2 months ago
8 ARTICLE AD
In Lagos, dispatch riders have become unwitting participants in illicit trade, transporting weed, other hard drugs and strange consignments to customers.
Operating under the guise of legitimate deliveries, they navigate the city’s streets, sometimes, unaware of some of the illegal contents they carry. Aside from the odd parcels, this report majorly delves into the growing issue of drug smuggling through courier services, revealing the challenges of regulating this shadowy aspect of the delivery industry, GODFREY GEORGE writes
As the sun rises over the bustling streets of Lagos, the city stirs to life with the honking of cars and humming of motorcycles weaving through traffic like fish swimming in water.
On any given day, these riders are the lifeline of the fast-paced city, delivering distinctive packages that range from the mundane to the outright bizarre.
These seasoned dispatch riders, who know every shortcut and back alley in the city, usually have strapped on their head, protective helmets, and carry behind them a box-like container either made of plastic or metal, used to ferry meals and other goods to impatient customers.
Yet, beneath the surface of this everyday hustle lies a darker, more sinister operation—one that thrives in the shadows, hidden in plain sight.
The use of dispatch riders as couriers of illegal narcotics and other strange consignments has become an open secret in Nigeria’s underworld and the public.
These riders, once the unsung heroes during the COVID-19 lockdown for the vital role they played in keeping the economy afloat, are now the unsuspecting faces of a thriving drug trade and conveyors of strange packages.
The rise in the use of motorcycles for illicit drug delivery has transformed the streets of Nigerian cities into the veins of a vast, clandestine network, pulsating with the flow of weed, cocaine, and other hard drugs.
Oddly, these riders are not just delivering parcels; they are also carriers of deeply personal and often mystical items often wrapped in discreet packages.
As they weave through frenetic traffic, they transport sacrifices—items intended for spiritual rituals or appeasement, which are often a mix of traditional herbs, symbolic tokens, and sometimes, even live animals, entrusted to them by customers seeking to fulfil cultural or religious obligations.
The riders, adept at blending into the urban landscape, also become unwitting bearers of the city’s spiritual undercurrents.
For Ahmed Ibrahim, a seasoned dispatch rider, as he glanced at the delivery app on his phone on this very day, he knew this wouldn’t be a typical day. The first job of the morning took him to a small, dimly lit apartment in Surulere. As he knocked on the door, a woman in her mid-thirties answered, cradling a bundle wrapped in a colourful Ankara cloth.
“Please, handle it with care,” she said, her eyes wide with an emotion that Ahmed couldn’t quite place. She handed over the bundle, which was surprisingly heavy.
As he secured it to his bike, he couldn’t help but wonder what was inside the tightly wrapped parcel nestling inside his delivery container.
The address on the package led him to a high-end boutique in Victoria Island, where a well-dressed man quickly took the bundle, muttering something about a “sacred item” before disappearing into the store.
Next, Ahmed’s phone buzzed with a new request. This time, he found himself outside a gated mansion in Ikoyi. A stern-looking man in a crisp white kaftan handed him a small wooden box, its surface intricately carved with strange symbols.
“Take this directly to the marina. No detours,” the man ordered, his voice leaving no room for questions. The journey to the marina was tense, with Ahmed constantly checking his rearview mirror, half-expecting to be followed.
Upon arrival, a boatman took the box without a word, slipping it into the folds of his agbada before disappearing into the shadows.
By midday, the sun was blazing overhead, and Ahmed decided to take a break at a roadside buka. As he sipped on a bottle of cold Maltina, his phone buzzed again.
The pickup was from a small herbal shop in Yaba, where an elderly woman gave him a brown envelope smelling faintly of dried herbs and something metallic.
She gave him a toothless smile and said, “Take this to the church on Third Mainland Bridge. It’s for a deliverance service.”
As Ahmed zoomed across the bridge, the envelope tucked securely in his bag, he couldn’t help but think of all the strange items he had delivered over the years—live chickens, a jar of what he swore was blood, and once, even a mysterious letter with nothing but a single word written on it. Each delivery came with its own set of instructions, warnings, and sometimes, a generous tip if the job was particularly odd.
As the day drew to a close, Ahmed made his last delivery to a small shrine on the outskirts of the city. The priest, dressed in flowing white robes, took the package with a nod of gratitude, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.
Ahmed rode back home, the city lights flickering to life around him.
For most, these deliveries would seem strange, even frightening. But for Ahmed and the other dispatch riders navigating the chaotic streets of Lagos, it was just another day on the job—a job where every package told a story and every delivery was a journey into the unknown.
Meanwhile, in a country where the war on drugs is fraught with challenges, drug dealers are constantly devising new ways to outsmart law enforcement.
The emergence of dispatch riders as drug couriers is a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of these criminal networks.
The process is both simple and sophisticated, relying on the very infrastructure designed to bring convenience and efficiency to urban life.
The modus operandi is straightforward, our correspondent gathered: drugs are concealed in innocuous packages—food boxes, grocery bags, or even envelopes.
The rider, often unaware of the true contents, picks up the package from a drop-off point and delivers it to the buyer’s doorstep. For those in the know, a discreet text message or a quick phone call is all it takes to place an order.
The drugs are delivered under the guise of a regular transaction, with the rider none the wiser.
In June, 20222, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, disclosed that dispatch riders had become distributors of hard drugs and illicit substances, vowing to beam its searchlight on them.
The NDLEA Lagos State Commander, Alumona Callys, disclosed this while addressing journalists about its activities, in commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 2022.
He said some dispatch riders provided pickup and delivery services for drug dealers in Lagos state, adding that from December 2021 to date, the command arrested 336 suspects out of which 56 were convicted.
Callys said 97 drug users were counselled and transferred from the Supply Reduction (Investigation Department) unit, and 57,330.573 kilograms of hard drugs were also seized within the period.
He stated that the command would not relent in its effort to restore sanity in the fight against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking through the arrest of dealers and users of narcotics and psychotropic substances no matter their social status.
Warning those still in the business, the NDLEA commander said, “Our message is, ‘Stop while there is an opportunity to.”
Uncovering the clandestine transaction
To uncover this clandestine trade, our correspondent devised an experiment involving the delivery of three seemingly innocent food packs to different locations: Magodo, Lekki Phase II, and Surulere—all sent from the island.
The first parcel contained powdered eggshells, carefully placed on a plate, wrapped, and labelled “fragile.”
The other two parcels contained fragrant powder and some salt, similarly wrapped and labelled as fragile.
Our correspondent’s plan was set in motion with the assistance of a young man named Joe (surname withheld), whom he had encountered in a Facebook comment section.
Joe, who boldly claimed he could deliver “anything” to anyone for the “right amount,” arranged to transport these packages to three of his associates.
Claiming to work for RBD Dispatch Limited, Joe instructed our correspondent to drop off the packages and the payment at a popular junction close by, insisting that the items would be delivered without issue and only cash payment was accepted.
When our correspondent insisted on transfer, the dispatch rider said he was no longer interested in the business.
“My Oga monitors my account and I want to do express for you, Oga. Make I dey go abi make I come carry am, because I dey that your area now,” he said, impatiently.
When asked if he was concerned about getting into trouble with his employers, Joe replied confidently, “Na the extra money I dey find. Just drop the stuff, leave am. I go pick am up before you leave.”
True to his word, Joe collected the parcels almost immediately after our correspondent left.
Before our correspondent could reach the nearby filling station, Joe’s phone number, 08108457***, went temporarily unreachable.
However, not long after the last delivery was made to Magodo, Joe reconnected, saying, “I have delivered all of them, Sir.”
He then disconnected the call abruptly. Despite repeated attempts to contact him again to offer a tip, Joe did not respond.
Our correspondent later confirmed with the recipients that all three packages arrived at their destinations, untampered and intact.
Fictitious dispatch company
When our correspondent searched for RBD Dispatch Limited on Google, there was no trace of it.
It only found a real estate firm based in the United Kingdom, named RBD Business Services Limited, and another, RBD Security and Man Power Services, located in the United States.
Checks on the Corporate Affairs Commission website also showed that the business or the name does not exist, which may mean that Joe, may be an independent rider without any registered business name and no tax records, amongst others.
Till the time this report was filed, Joe’s phone line remained unreachable and he did not respond to several text messages sent to his line.
A counter-terrorism expert, working discreetly with an international organisation in the United States, who refused to speak on the record to our correspondent, noted that the beauty of this kind of operation lay in its simplicity.
“Dispatch riders are omnipresent in Nigerian cities. Their constant movement and the sheer volume of deliveries make it nearly impossible for law enforcement to single out a suspect.
“Even if a rider is stopped for a routine check, the chances of uncovering the illicit cargo are slim. After all, who would suspect a neatly sealed food pack of hiding anything more than a piping hot meal?,” he queried.
The human factor
While some dispatch riders may be complicit in these operations, many are unwitting participants, lured into the trade by the promise of quick cash or coerced by threats.
For others, the harsh economic realities of life in Nigeria leave them with little choice but to turn a blind eye.
The average dispatch rider earns a modest income, often barely enough to cover living expenses.
The allure of an extra few filthy lucre for a no-questions-asked delivery can be tempting, especially in a country where jobs are scarce and poverty is widespread.
However, the risks are enormous. Riders who get caught with drugs in their possession face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines.
Yet, the very nature of the trade means that riders are often the ones who bear the brunt of the law, while the masterminds behind the operation remain elusive.
A rider, who works for a leading logistics brand, Segun (surname withheld) confided in our correspondent that whenever he was done with his regular deliveries, he does ‘special deliveries’ for some ‘clients’ around Lekki, Magodo and Yaba.
Segun, who is a regular dispatch rider for this reporter, and has a friendly rapport, said most riders were into it.
“As long as you don’t tell me what I am delivering is illegal, it is not illegal. I won’t ask. They pay higher. You can deliver one package for as much as N20,000, and they always pay cash. Before making N20,000 in this business, you must have toiled for several days,” he added.
Recalling an incident that almost landed him in trouble, he said one of his ‘premium clients’ gave him a pack of food to deliver to the Island from Shangisha, Magodo in Lagos.
“I touched the park. It was steaming hot. I actually thought it was food but something was off. It was a small pack of food and the guy offered me N10,000 to have it delivered. For a meal he bought around the amount, I was shocked.
“Out of curiosity, I stopped at Iyana-Oworo and just opened the package and I saw several packed bags of cannabis soaked in a plate of stew and rice. I didn’t know whether to return it and face severe bashing or just deliver it like nothing happened,” he said.
Segun stated that he summoned the courage, called the owner of the parcel and said he was returning it.
“I managed to seal it and I dropped it with him. He promised to deal with me but I knew I had saved myself from the mess,” he said.
However, several months after the incident, Segun said he discovered he was among the very few who were missing out in this ‘new market’.
So, sometimes, he would engage in the act, praying and hoping he was not caught.
Role of technology
Our correspondent discovered that technology has played a significant role in facilitating this underground trade.
With the proliferation of mobile apps and digital platforms, ordering drugs has become as easy as ordering food.
Encrypted messaging apps allow buyers and sellers to communicate securely, while GPS tracking systems enable precise coordination of deliveries.
In many cases, the entire transaction is conducted anonymously, with neither party ever meeting face-to-face.
The rise of e-commerce in Nigeria has also provided a convenient cover for drug traffickers.
Online marketplaces, which allow vendors to sell a wide range of goods, have become fertile ground for illicit activities and strange deliveries.
The sheer volume of transactions makes monitoring difficult for authorities, and the anonymity provided by these platforms allows sellers and perpetrators to operate with relative impunity.
The Nigeria Police Force, already stretched thin by the demands of maintaining law and order in a country of over 200 million people, faces an uphill battle in combating this new wave of drug trafficking, experts say.
The covert nature of the trade, coupled with the widespread use of dispatch riders, makes it difficult to track and intercept drug shipments.
Moreover, corruption within the police force exacerbates the problem. Reports of officers turning a blind eye in exchange for bribes are not uncommon, allowing the drug trade to flourish.
Even when arrests are made, the focus is often on low-level players, such as the dispatch riders, rather than the kingpins who orchestrate the operation from the shadows.
Several arrests
Operatives of the National NDLEA in June 2021 launched fresh raids on online drug traffickers and couriers in the Federal Capital Territory, during which a young lady, her boyfriend and eight others were arrested and assorted drugs recovered from them.
The first suspect, 28-year-old Ese Patrick, who sold her illicit substances through her Instagram account, @Ese’sOvenSecret, was tracked and arrested with some pieces of brownies ordered online by NDLEA’s undercover agents, on May 21, 2021, and delivered by herself and her boyfriend in a Mercedes Benz car.
A follow-up operation at her residence led to the seizure of 400 grams of Arizona weed, which she uses in baking the brownies.
Further investigation led to the arrest of one Iyama Patrick, with 450 grams of Arizona weed. He supplies Ese with the cannabis she uses.
A day earlier, a motorcycle belonging to a courier company, Sky Port was abandoned by a dispatch rider in Wuse Zone 4, upon sighting NDLEA’s outpost in the area.
The motorcycle was later found to contain several pinches of crack cocaine a.k.a Challie, and some envelopes of ‘Arizona’ meant for delivery.
Another online drug trafficker, Peter Nkejika was arrested on Monday, May 24, 2021, following an arrest of a dispatch rider with some quantity of Loud, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis.
Each portion of Loud cost N30,000 (at that time) and the rider was caught with 17 portions for delivery.
Also on Tuesday May 25, 2021, NDLEA operatives intercepted two online drug transactions and arrested two dispatch riders with some quantities of cocaine and Loud neatly packaged for delivery recovered from them.
In all, five dispatch riders and a lady, Dolapo Benjamin, who owns motorcycles involved in the door-to-door distribution of drugs and drug-based edibles; cakes and brownies, were arrested while six dispatch motorcycles involved in door-to-door drug distribution were seized.
Also seized from them were assorted drugs; Cocaine, Crack /Challie, Molly/ Ecstasy, Skunk, Brownies and Loud, which is the most expensive psychoactive variant of cannabis in town.
Industry landscape
The Nigerian courier and dispatch riding industry is diverse and growing.
Estimates suggest there are over 200,000 registered courier companies, ranging from large, well-established firms to innovative startups.
Prominent players include Gokada, Max.ng, InDrive, Bolt, ChowDeck, and OPay, amongst others, which have leveraged technology to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
The rise of app-based dispatch services has revolutionised the industry, making it more accessible and efficient.
Inconsistent regulation
Regulation of the courier industry in Nigeria is multifaceted, involving several bodies and guidelines designed to ensure safety, efficiency, and legal compliance.
The National Association of Road Transport Owners provides oversight and guidelines for transportation operations, including courier services. It works to standardise practices and promote safety within the industry.
The Federal Road Safety Corps enforces traffic laws and safety regulations for all road users, including dispatch riders. It mandates the use of helmets, reflective jackets, and adherence to traffic rules to minimise accidents.
Also, the Nigerian Postal Service, known as a primary regulator, regulates postal and courier services, setting standards for operations and ensuring compliance with national regulations. This includes licensing requirements and operational guidelines.
Meanwhile, local regulations vary by state and city, with some urban areas imposing restrictions on commercial motorcycles.
Despite these regulations, enforcement can be inconsistent, and some companies operate without full compliance, which impacts the industry’s overall safety and reliability.
Lagos drug abuse cases
In 2022, the Chairman, NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said Lagos recorded 33 per cent of drug abuse cases in the country.
He disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, in Lagos.
According to him, in Lagos alone, there was a prevalence of 33 per cent, which he noted was the highest in the country.
“I think it is very important that drug abuse in Nigeria must be stopped by all stakeholders.
“I implore his Royal Majesty, Akran of Badagry, to set up a committee on war against drug abuse, comprising his chiefs, distinguished sons and daughters of the land,” he said.
Most riders unaware – Union boss
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the President of the Association of Lagos State Courier Operators, Mr Anthony Akhagba, highlighted the challenges facing the courier industry, especially the transportation of illegal substances by dispatch riders.
He explained that while the association maintains strict regulations against carrying prohibited items like narcotics, cash, or weapons, the proliferation of independent riders has complicated enforcement.
“Even the regulatory body, NIPOST, encourages more independent riders to get their licenses and operate,” he said.
“A rider with just one bike can come on board and be registered, get a license, and operate. But this has made it difficult to track and regulate what’s happening on the streets.”
Akhagba noted that due to the economic downturn in Nigeria, many people have turned to dispatch services as a means of livelihood, further complicating the regulatory environment.
“A lot of people that cannot really be controlled have found their way into the business,” he lamented.
‘Customers to blame’
According to Akhagba, the responsibility often lies more with the customers, who involve dispatch riders unknowingly.
“Nobody in our association will knowingly get involved in carrying narcotics,” he defended.
“It is mostly customers that get these riders involved unknowingly. For instance, someone might claim to have a document to deliver but smuggle drugs through those documents.
The package in the hands of the rider may appear to be just a document, but it could be laced with hard drugs or cash without the rider’s knowledge.”
Regulatory loopholes
The ALSO president pointed out significant loopholes in the regulatory framework, particularly when it comes to intra-city dispatch.
He emphasised that while items meant for export undergo thorough scrutiny, intra-city deliveries are not rigorously checked.
“We usually request consent to check the package, but sometimes, the items being delivered are highly confidential. They can be documents or even edible stuff. We cannot begin to scrutinise things like that so that we don’t undervalue the integrity of our company,” Akhagba explained.
He also noted that many independent riders working with popular e-hailing apps often pick up single orders for delivery, making it difficult to monitor what they are transporting.
“If a package comes in an envelope and it’s being suspected, the dispatcher can choose not to take that package. But, if it is wrapped underneath a cloth or stuff like that, one would not know,” he said.
Lapse in regulation
Akhagba acknowledged that the problem is widespread, extending beyond the control of courier companies.
He called for greater government intervention to address the issue, particularly at the national level.
“The government needs to come in and see what they can do. Police cannot stop all dispatch riders from searching them.
“There is no control. The NDLEA would have to come in to cut off supply from the routes, not us trying to stop it from being circulated,” he added.
Regulatory integrity, corporate identity
Meanwhile, a security expert and founder of Chive GPS, Nnamdi Anekwe-Chife, emphasised that the integrity and corporate identity of dispatch companies play a crucial role in curbing the illegal transportation of narcotics.
“Most of these services are provided based on trust and corporate integrity,” he said.
Anekwe-Chife suggested that while physical monitoring of every delivery is impractical, regulatory bodies can impose fines and punitive measures to deter those involved in smuggling activities.
He also noted that international organisations already have stringent practices in place, such as unwrapping and resealing items with their seals before delivery.
Challenges of intra-city transport
A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Mike Ejiofor, highlighted the difficulties associated with monitoring intra-city deliveries, which are often less scrutinised than inter-city transport.
“If it is inter-city transport, it would be difficult because of the security agents, but intra-transport is very difficult to checkmate,” he explained.
Ejiofor argued against banning or harassing dispatch riders due to the actions of a few bad ones.
He said instead, dispatch companies should be called to “sanitise their houses” through independent investigations to identify and eliminate those involved in illegal activities.
He also recommended implementing new regulations that require dispatch companies to verify the contents of parcels before delivery.
“Before any parcel is carried, the content of the parcel must be seen,” he insisted.
NDLEA’s role in combating drug smuggling
The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, outlined the agency’s efforts to tackle the issue through sensitisation, awareness campaigns, and enforcement actions.
“First is sensitisation and awareness, which the agency has embarked on through its war against drug abuse initiative,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of mobilising society to support the fight against drug trafficking.
Babafemi said the NDLEA’s strategy includes lectures and workshops in schools, faith-based centres, markets, and motor parks to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
On the enforcement side, he said intelligence gathering, random stop-and-search operations, and raids, had led to the arrest of several dispatch riders involved in transporting narcotics.
He also highlighted the importance of “Know Your Customer” practices among logistics companies and dispatch riders.
“Don’t be too money-centred so that you don’t carry an illegal substance and run into one of our checkpoints on the way and get searched. Possession of illegal substances is a criminal offence, regardless of intent,” he warned.
Babafemi also highlighted the NDLEA’s collaboration with transport unions and the use of technology to monitor and address the issue effectively.
