NDLEA Busts International Drug Syndicate, Seizes N5.3 Billion Cocaine, Arrests Leaders in Lagos

NDLEA has busted international drug syndicate, seized N5.3 billion cocaine and arrested leaders in Lagos.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled an international organized criminal group (IOCG) operating between Nigeria, the UK, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, following the interception of a cocaine consignment worth N5.3 billion.

Three key leaders of the syndicate were arrested in Lagos after the cocaine was discovered concealed in textile materials and local charms.

The two-week intelligence-led operation, conducted across parts of Lagos, was disclosed on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

Babafemi explained that the crackdown began on August 26, 2025, when officers intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials destined for Sydney, Australia, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja. A thorough search revealed 16 large blocks of cocaine weighing 17.9 kilograms hidden in lace materials packed with local charms.

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The first arrest was that of freight agent Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, a member of the syndicate. Babafemi noted that the consignment had an estimated street value of over 5.3 million Australian Dollars, equivalent to N5.3 billion.

Leaders Unmasked

 

Further investigations led to the arrests of two additional cartel leaders, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi and Shola Adegoke. Ogunbiyi, the ringleader of the group in Nigeria, was arrested at a hotel in Ikeja GRA on September 3, and a subsequent search at his Lekki residence uncovered 21 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis totaling 10.90kg and a double-barreled pump-action gun with ammunition.

Adegoke was later arrested at a compound on Reverend Ogunbiyi Street, Ikeja GRA, where operatives recovered 17 parcels of cannabis and a Range Rover SUV linked to the cartel. The syndicate’s operations were also traced overseas, with Adebisi Ademola Omoyele, known as “Mr. Bee,” coordinating activities from Dubai, UAE.

Both Ogunbiyi and Adegoke have criminal records abroad. Adegoke was jailed in the UK in 2021 for methamphetamine trafficking before being deported in 2024, while Ogunbiyi served a 14-year sentence in the UK for murder.

Nationwide Raids and Seizures

 

The NDLEA also carried out several arrests and seizures nationwide over the same period:

• Lagos Airport: Gabriel Michael, a Milan-based Nigerian, arrested with 24,480 tramadol pills.

• Port Harcourt: 160,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion seized at Onne Port.

• Abuja: Joel Bernard (32) arrested with 3.1kg of Colorado cannabis.

• Lagos (Surulere): Tunde Ayinla (47) and Olawale Omotare (54) caught with 625kg of cannabis variants.

• Ajegunle, Lagos: Couple Andy David (43) and Andy Esther (44) arrested with 24.4kg of skunk.

• Kogi State: Musa Isah (45) seized with 53.4kg of skunk.

• Edo State: Yunusa Zakari (23) linked to a previous 233kg skunk seizure in Kaduna.

• Anambra State: Ayouk Nelson (28) arrested with 11,000 tramadol pills.

• Niger State: Afolayan Ayodele (54) caught transporting 342kg of skunk along Minna-Bida road.

• Taraba State: 18,750kg of cannabis destroyed on 7.5 hectares of farmland in Joro-Ade village; farm owners Mako Zmar (55) and Sani Titus (45) arrested.

Oyo State Crackdown

Separately, NDLEA’s Oyo State Command reported 280 arrests and 43 convictions for drug trafficking and illicit dealing between January and August 2025, reflecting the agency’s intensified enforcement efforts. The suspects, aged 13 to 50, included 246 males and 34 females.

The recent operations underscore NDLEA’s commitment to dismantling local and international drug networks while targeting trafficking, distribution, and consumption of narcotics across Nigeria.