Crime

NDLEA Breaks Up Two Major Drug Cartels, Seizes Multi-Billion Naira Cocaine Shipments

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 28th, 2024.

NDLEA Breaks Up Two Major Drug Cartels, Seizes Multi-Billion Naira Cocaine Shipments

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a cocaine trafficking network led by a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, in Lagos and Ogun states. This operation, driven by intelligence, resulted in the seizure of multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine and the arrest of the kingpin and his partner.

On Saturday, May 25, 2024, NDLEA operatives, supported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, apprehended the couple at Ibiye along the Lagos-Badagry expressway. They were attempting to cross the border to deliver the drug consignment to Ghana. At the time of their arrest, they were in possession of 42 blocks of cocaine weighing 47.5 kilograms. A subsequent raid at their residence on Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun state, uncovered an additional eight blocks of cocaine weighing 10 kilograms. In total, 57.5 kilograms of cocaine were seized from the couple.

In a separate operation, the special unit recovered 1,100 ampoules of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, weighing 6.48 kilograms from Ikeh Stanley Ifeanyi, a 34-year-old member of a drug trafficking syndicate, at Idumota market in Lagos Island. Additionally, 790 ampoules of fentanyl weighing 5.273 kilograms were confiscated from another syndicate member, 48-year-old Chieze Ogechukwu Benjamin, who was also arrested at Idumota market. Fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than heroin, is a major cause of overdose deaths in the U.S.

In another raid on Lagos Island, NDLEA officers arrested Olayiwola Aremu Kazeem, 37, and Ogunfowora Taofik Ajibola, 35, recovering 432 grams of methamphetamine.

At Tincan port in Lagos, on May 25, NDLEA operatives intercepted 15 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 7.5 kilograms. The drugs were concealed in the doors and body crevices of a Toyota Highlander SUV within a container marked MSMU 7294325. This container, declared as containing three used vehicles including the Toyota Highlander, originated from Toronto and was shipped to Nigeria via Montreal, Canada. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Sunday Sodade and Oriyomi Adesina, who were set to receive the vehicle and the drug consignment. A six million naira bribe offered by the sender of the container in Canada through his agent has been documented as evidence for prosecution.

Reacting to these successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the special unit for their diligence in dismantling drug cartels and arresting barons. He also commended the effective collaboration between NDLEA and its local and international partners and urged all agency commands and formations to persist in their efforts against the drug trade.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media and Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Tuesday, May 27, 2024