NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicate behind six UK-bound shipments

…Nabs arrowhead, 5 others

By Kingsley Omonobi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has dismantled 2 large cause cartels liable for six abstracted cocaine shipments concealed successful stainless cups, assemblage creams, and hairsbreadth gel containers bound for the United Kingdom.

The three-week intelligence-led operations successful Lagos led to the apprehension of 5 suspects, including the ringing leader, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, who claimed to beryllium a businessman and  spot developer.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, successful a connection connected Sunday, said the archetypal breakthrough came connected September 16, 2025, erstwhile operatives astatine the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40kg concealed successful cocoa food assemblage pick containers.

“A cargo cause was arrested immediately, and investigations linked the consignment to Alhaji Hammed Ode. After weeks of surveillance, helium was traced and arrested with the practice of the police,” Babafemi said.

Ode allegedly confessed to owning the drugs, claiming helium bought them for implicit ¦ 150 million. He reportedly lived successful respective European countries for implicit 27 years earlier returning to Nigeria successful 2024.

In a related operation, NDLEA foiled 5 different UK-bound cocaine shipments, seizing aggregate consignments concealed successful hairsbreadth pick containers. The arrests led to the seizure of Smith David Korede, a furnishings maker, who was recovered with 1.4kg of cocaine astatine his Mafoluku, Oshodi residence. Two others, Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, were aboriginal arrested aft 2.6kg of cocaine hidden successful crayfish and hairsbreadth pick containers was recovered.

The Agency besides intercepted 6.3kg of “Loud”, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed successful furniture sheets and hibiscus flowers from Thailand.

In abstracted operations crossed the country, NDLEA operatives seized ample quantities of tramadol, skunk, codeine syrup, and nitrous oxide from suspects successful Kano, Lagos, Kwara, Ogun, Kaduna, Osun, and Edo States.

The station NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicate down six UK-bound shipments appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.