Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe will face the full weight of the law. The NDLEA’s crackdown will continue. Yet, the cycle will repeat itself—another trafficker will take the same risk, another body will carry the same deadly cargo. Until the system begins to look beyond arrests and convictions, to see the psychological and socio-economic factors that fuel these crimes, the real problem will persist.

Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe sat in the cold detention room at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, his body weary, his mind racing. At 59 years old, he was no stranger to hardship, but this—this was a different kind of reckoning. The officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) watched him closely, their suspicion confirmed by a body scan that revealed what he had fought to keep hidden—81 tightly wrapped pellets of cocaine lodged deep in his stomach. He was now a statistic, another trafficker in a long list of those who had taken the same deadly gamble.

His journey had begun in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he had swallowed the contraband with the precision of a man who had done this before or, at the very least, had been trained well. The plan was simple: fly to Beirut, Lebanon, deliver the drugs, and return with enough money to fix whatever desperate situation had driven him to this. But fate had other plans. The Lebanese authorities denied him entry, sending him back to Ethiopia. Panic set in. The drugs refused to pass through his system. Time was running out. He booked a flight to Lagos, hoping for an escape, or perhaps just a moment to figure out his next move.

By the time NDLEA operatives arrested him, his body was failing him. Some of the wraps had passed, but 57 remained, dangerously lodged inside. Surgery was his only option. The pellets were carefully removed—1.943 kilograms of pure cocaine extracted from a man whose risk had outpaced his luck.

At first glance, this is a crime story, another tale of an arrest, an interception, a bust. The system will process Igbokwe accordingly. But the story does not end there. His case is a microcosm of something larger—a pattern, a cycle, a recurring theme that exposes the complex underbelly of drug trafficking and the psychology of those who become mules. What drives a man of his age and experience to ingest nearly two kilograms of cocaine, knowing the extreme dangers involved? What factors push individuals to take such reckless risks, to become human containers of death?

The Psychology of the Drug Mule

To understand drug mules, one must step beyond the surface of criminality and examine the underlying psychological, economic, and systemic forces that drive individuals to make such choices. Drug trafficking is not merely a crime of greed; it is often a crime of necessity, desperation, or coercion.

Forensic psychology tells us that individuals who engage in high-risk activities such as drug trafficking often exhibit distinct psychological traits. Some traffickers are sensation-seekers, individuals who thrive on danger and uncertainty. The adrenaline rush of smuggling, of outsmarting authorities, can be as addictive as the drugs they carry. Others, however, are pawns in a much larger game—desperate individuals trapped by financial hardship, lured by the promise of quick money, or forced into the trade by threats and coercion.

Igbokwe’s case also raises another possibility: cognitive distortions and impaired risk assessment. Studies in criminal psychology indicate that many drug mules engage in optimism bias—the belief that they will not get caught, that the system will fail to detect them, that luck is on their side. This psychological illusion allows them to rationalize an otherwise irrational act. Others are influenced by socio-cultural factors, such as normalized corruption, systemic poverty, and the glorification of wealth at all costs.

Yet, when these cases come before a judge, little thought is given to these deeper motivations. The law is clear: trafficking equals punishment. But should it be that simple?

Beyond the Arrest: Why Courts Must Go Deeper

Law enforcement agencies like the NDLEA will continue to apprehend traffickers, but without deeper intervention, the cycle will persist. The courts must begin to ask fundamental questions: What psychological and environmental factors push individuals into drug trafficking? How much of it is a conscious, calculated decision, and how much of it is driven by coercion or cognitive impairment?

Cases like Igbokwe’s should prompt Nigeria’s judiciary to embrace a more scientific and rehabilitative approach to criminal justice. Psychological testing, rather than just psychiatric evaluations rooted in colonial methods, offers a comprehensive way to understand the factors influencing drug trafficking. Relying solely on traditional psychiatric evaluations risks missing the broader cognitive and behavioral issues that drive individuals to take such extreme risks.

Rather than simply handing out long prison sentences, courts should conduct thorough psychological evaluations to determine the true nature of an offender’s decision-making process. Intelligence testing can reveal whether the trafficker had the cognitive ability to fully grasp the risks involved. Personality assessments can help identify traits such as impulsivity, susceptibility to manipulation, or an attraction to high-risk behavior. Behavioral risk analysis can determine if the trafficker has a history of reckless decision-making or if they were coerced under financial or physical threats.

If these tests indicate deeper psychological vulnerabilities, targeted rehabilitative measures could be more effective than incarceration alone. Some offenders may require psychological counseling to address trauma, addiction, or cognitive distortions that led them to engage in trafficking. Others may need structured intervention programs that offer economic alternatives to crime.

A justice system that does not account for these psychological and social factors is incomplete. It punishes but does not understand. It sentences but does not solve the root causes.

The Need for a Paradigm Shift in Justice

The Nigerian legal system must evolve beyond rigid punitive approaches that treat all drug traffickers as equal offenders. The reality is far more complex. Some traffickers are career criminals operating within powerful cartels; others are vulnerable individuals caught in a system designed to exploit their desperation. By integrating forensic psychological assessments into the legal process, courts can distinguish between those who need rehabilitation and those who pose a genuine criminal threat.

Understanding the motivations behind drug trafficking can also help refine crime prevention strategies. Law enforcement can use psychological profiling to identify high-risk individuals before they enter the trade, implementing community-based interventions that address economic and social vulnerabilities. Public awareness campaigns can be tailored to debunk the myths of easy money and expose the grim realities of drug smuggling.

Furthermore, rehabilitation programs within the prison system could be structured to address psychological triggers that lead individuals into the drug trade. If the goal of the justice system is to reduce crime, then it must move beyond the simplistic notion that punishment alone is the solution.

Conclusion: A Broken Cycle in Need of Repair

Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe will face the full weight of the law. The NDLEA’s crackdown will continue. Yet, the cycle will repeat itself—another trafficker will take the same risk, another body will carry the same deadly cargo. Until the system begins to look beyond arrests and convictions, to see the psychological and socio-economic factors that fuel these crimes, the real problem will persist.

Drug trafficking is not just a crime; it is a symptom of deeper issues—poverty, coercion, cognitive distortions, and systemic failures. The question remains: will Nigeria’s justice system begin to treat the disease, or will it continue punishing the symptoms?

The answer to this question could define the future of criminal justice in the country. If courts fail to take a deeper approach, they will continue filling prisons with people like Igbokwe—men and women who, for reasons that extend far beyond greed, swallowed a deadly risk.

Oshodi Open Door, also known as Oshodi Open Door Public Training (OOPDT, pronounced opidt), is a public awareness initiative promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in Africa through educational articles and resources at [email protected], and offers specialized Timely Response Solutions (TRS) training at minimal or no cost.

John Egbeazien Oshodi is an American psychologist, educator, and author. Born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, he is the son of a 37-year veteran of the Nigeria Police Force. Professor Oshodi is an expert in cross-cultural psychology, forensic/clinical psychology, police and prison science, and social justice.

He has made significant contributions to forensic psychology, introducing it to Nigeria in 2011 through the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Nasarawa State University. Professor Oshodi has taught at several institutions, including Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, and Nova Southeastern University.

Currently, he serves as a government consultant for forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA and practices as a clinical and forensic psychologist. He also holds virtual faculty roles at Walden University and other institutions. Professor Oshodi has authored numerous publications and founded the Psychoafricalysis theory in psychology.