Sunday October 5, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled two drug cartels linked to six cocaine consignments destined for the United Kingdom, following a series of operations across Lagos State.
According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the operations were carried out over three weeks and led to the arrest of six suspects, including the alleged ringleader, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode.
Babafemi said the operation began on September 16, 2025, when NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.4 kilogrammes. The drugs were concealed in cocoa butter body cream containers intended for export.
He explained that initial investigation led to the arrest of a cargo agent, whose confession helped trace the shipment to Ode. The suspect was later arrested with the cooperation of the police after he allegedly reported a separate matter at the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Lagos.
“During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment, which he claimed he bought for over ₦150 million. He described himself as a businessman and estate developer, having returned to Nigeria in 2024 after spending 27 years in several European countries, including Austria, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom,” Babafemi stated.
The NDLEA spokesman further disclosed that two other suspects, Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, were arrested after officers intercepted additional cocaine-laden consignments on October 2, 2025. The drugs were hidden in crayfish packages and stainless cups.
“One of the consignments contained 12 stainless cups used to conceal one kilogram of cocaine, while the second contained 36 containers of hair cream concealing 1.6 kilograms of cocaine,” Babafemi said.
He added that the arrests form part of an ongoing effort by the agency to curb the trafficking of illicit substances through Nigeria’s airports and seaports.
The NDLEA said investigations into the wider network of the syndicates were ongoing.