NDLEA Dismantles Two Cocaine Cartels, Arrests Six Suspects in Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled two major drug cartels responsible for six cocaine shipments destined for the United Kingdom, arresting six suspects, including the alleged kingpin, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode.
According to the NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, the operations were conducted over three weeks across Lagos State.
The first breakthrough came on September 16, 2025, when operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.4 kilograms concealed in cocoa butter body cream containers.
Babafemi said a cargo agent was arrested, and investigations later linked the consignment to Ode, who was subsequently apprehended with police assistance. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that he purchased the drugs for over ₦150 million.
“In a series of intelligence-led operations lasting over three weeks, operatives of the NDLEA successfully dismantled two major cartels behind six consignments of cocaine concealed in stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers. This led to the arrest of five suspects and ultimately, the arrowhead of the syndicate, Hammed Taofeek Ode, who poses as a businessman and real estate developer,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA spokesman added that two other suspects, Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, were also arrested after the agency intercepted cocaine concealed in consignments of crayfish and stainless cups.
He said, “Two cocaine-laden consignments bound for the UK were intercepted at the MMIA on October 2. The suspects linked to the seizures were promptly arrested. One consignment contained crayfish and 12 stainless cups used to conceal 1kg of cocaine, while the other contained crayfish and 36 hair cream containers used to hide 1.6kg of cocaine.”
In another operation, Babafemi revealed that NDLEA operatives thwarted an attempt to smuggle 6.3 kilograms of “loud” — a potent strain of cannabis — concealed in bedsheets and hibiscus flowers from Thailand.
He added that a joint operation between NDLEA officers and Customs personnel along the Danbatta-Daura road in Kano led to the arrest of a 38-year-old suspect, Sa’adu Ali, and the seizure of over 290,000 pills of tramadol and pregabalin capsules.
In Lagos, a suspected drug dealer, John Igbe, popularly known as “SammyBless,” was arrested in Lekki with 550 grams of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Babafemi said three other suspects — Idris Lukman, Fuad Abdulsalam, and Mobolaji James — were apprehended in Mushin with 109 kilograms of skunk, codeine syrup, and nitrous oxide, while another raid at the Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, led to the recovery of 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 expired diclofenac tablets.
Other operations also led to arrests in Kwara and Kaduna states, with seizures including thousands of tramadol pills and nearly 500 kilograms of skunk.
NDLEA noted that the latest operations highlight its determination to dismantle drug networks and intercept narcotics concealed in unusual forms, such as cosmetic containers, crayfish packages, and even fabrics.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying its crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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