NDLEA bursts drug cartel running UK, Brazil, Australia ring

By: Kingsley Omonobi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has smashed an planetary organized transgression radical (IOCG) with strongholds successful Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, successful a bid of coordinated operations that ran for 2 weeks crossed Lagos and different parts of the country.

The clampdown, described by NDLEA arsenic 1 of the astir important successful caller years, followed the interception of a Sydney-bound cocaine shipment worthy implicit N5.3 cardinal astatine the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the breakthrough began connected Tuesday, 26th August 2025, erstwhile officers astatine the Lagos airdrome export shed uncovered 76 cartons of textile materials destined for Australia.

A thorough hunt revealed 16 ample blocks of cocaine weighing 17.9kg hidden wrong lace fabrics and laced with section charms allegedly meant to supply “spiritual cover” against instrumentality enforcement detection.

Babafemi disclosed that the archetypal apprehension was that of a freight agent, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, who had attempted to process the illicit cargo. His interrogation provided leads that blew unfastened the cartel’s structure.

Fast-paced investigations linked the syndicate to Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, identified arsenic the arrowhead of operations successful Nigeria. He was arrested astatine a edifice successful Ikeja GRA connected 3rd September, aft which a hunt astatine his Lekki location uncovered 21 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis (10.9kg) and a pump-action firearm with cartridges.

Another apical member, Shola Adegoke, was arrested during a raid astatine the cartel’s packaging hub located astatine 13 Reverend Ogunbiyi Street, Ikeja GRA. A hunt of the premises and vehicles parked within, including a Range Rover SUV (RBC 459 EJ), yielded 17 parcels of Loud (9.6kg).

Investigations further revealed that Adegoke, erstwhile jailed successful the UK successful 2021 for methamphetamine trafficking, was deported successful 2024. Similarly, Ogunbiyi had served 14 years successful a UK situation implicit a execution condemnation earlier relocating to Nigeria 8 years ago.

Both men were confirmed to beryllium repetition offenders who had re-established links with planetary cause networks aft their release.

At the apical of the chain, NDLEA identified Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (alias Mr. Bee), believed to beryllium the cartel’s ringleader, presently operating from Dubai, UAE, wherever helium allegedly coordinates the syndicate’s overseas logistics and finances.

While the Lagos operations shook the cartel, NDLEA operatives crossed the state intensified raids, intercepting monolithic quantities of narcotics and arresting dozens of suspects: Rivers State (Onne Port): 160,200 bottles of codeine syrup concealed successful a instrumentality filled with ceramic sanitary wares, with an estimated thoroughfare worth of N1.1 billion, FCT, Abuja: A dispatch rider, Joel Bernard (32), was caught successful Gwarimpa with 3.1kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, Lagos (Surulere): Acting connected intelligence, NDLEA arrested Tunde Ayinla (47) and Olawale Omotare (54) portion loading 4 organisation vehicles with 625kg of cannabis strains, including Canadian Loud and Ghana Loud, Ajegunle, Lagos: A couple, Andy David (43) and Andy Esther (44), were arrested with 24.4kg of skunk, Kogi State: Musa Isah (45) was arrested with 53.4kg of skunk hidden successful his Toyota Avensis, Kaduna/Edo axis: 233kg of skunk seized successful Kakau, Kaduna, led to the apprehension of Yunusa Zakari (23) successful Auchi, Edo State, Anambra State (Onitsha): –Bida road): NDLEA intercepted a Toyota Hilux transporting 342kg of skunk, arresting Afolayan Ayodele (54), and Taraba State: Over 18,750kg of cannabis plantations destroyed connected 7.5 hectares successful Joro-Ade village, Ardo Kola LGA. Two workplace owners, Mako Zmar (55) and Sani Titus (45), were arrested.

The station NDLEA bursts cause cartel moving UK, Brazil, Australia ring appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.