Anti-Drug Agency Smashes Cocaine Cartel In Lagos, Arrests 6 Suspects

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) person smashed 2 large cause cartels down six antithetic consignments of cocaine concealed successful walls of stainless cups, assemblage pick and hairsbreadth gel containers.

The bid of intelligence-led operations, which lasted implicit 3 weeks successful Lagos, led to the apprehension of six suspects, including the syndicate’s arrowhead, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, who parades himself arsenic a businessman and existent property developer.

NDLEA’s spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the opening of the extremity of the transgression syndicate’s operations began connected September 16, 2025, erstwhile the agency’s operatives astatine the Export Shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilogrammes concealed successful walls of cocoa food assemblage pick containers.

“A cargo cause was promptly arrested. Further investigations revealed Alhaji Ode arsenic the mastermind of the shipment and aft weeks of intelligence, it was established that the cause baron had reported a quality astatine the Zone 2 office of the Police successful Lagos, aft which the bureau sought the practice of the constabulary to get the fishy into custody,” NDLEA stated.

It said during his preliminary interview, Ode admitted ownership of the consignment, which helium claimed helium bought astatine implicit N150 million. He claimed to beryllium a businessman and an property developer pursuing his instrumentality from the United Kingdom successful 2024.

He lived for implicit 27 years successful galore European countries, including Austria, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia, earlier settling successful the UK.

Babafemi further said successful similar manner, 5 different hopeless attempts by different transgression syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom were besides thwarted by operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA.

According to him, “The unravelling of the pack started connected September 26, pursuing the seizure of 2.10kg cocaine concealed successful walls of hairsbreadth pick containers astatine the Export Shed of the Lagos airport.

“The apprehension of a cargo cause led to the apprehension of the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furnishings maker, connected Tuesday, September 30, astatine his 3, Arowojobe Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos base, wherever different consignment of 1.40kg cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him. The aforesaid day, different consignment of 1.00kg of cocaine with a akin mode of concealment going to the UK was besides intercepted astatine the Export Shed of the airport. The cargo cause arrested successful transportation with the 1.00kg cocaine besides identified Korede arsenic the consignor, bringing to 3 the fig of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect.

“Two different cocaine laden consignments going to the UK were besides intercepted by NDLEA operatives astatine the Export Shed of the MMIA connected Thursday, October 2. Two suspects: Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, linked to the seizures, were promptly arrested. One of the consignments contains crayfish and 12 pieces of stainless cups utilized to conceal 1.00kg cocaine, portion the 2nd consignment besides contains crayfish, and 36 containers of hairsbreadth pick utilized to conceal 1.60kg of cocaine,” helium said.