The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled an international drug cartel operating between Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, arresting three of its kingpins and seizing cocaine worth N5.3 billion.
According to NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advicacy, the syndicate was busted after NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials bound for Sydney, Australia.
“Concealed within were 17.9 kilograms of cocaine cleverly hidden in lace fabrics and local charms. This led to the arrest of freight agent Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, followed by the capture of cartel leaders Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi and Shola Adegoke in Lagos,” Babafemi said.
Further raids uncovered parcels of Canadian Loud, firearms, and luxury vehicles linked to the cartel.
Investigations revealed the network’s overseas coordinator, Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (alias Mr. Bee), is currently hiding in Dubai.
In separate nationwide operations, NDLEA intercepted:160,200 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1 billion at the Onne Ports, Rivers State.653kg of Loud and Colorado in Lagos and Abuja raids.342kg of skunk along the Minna-Bida Road, Niger State.18,750kg of cannabis destroyed on 7.5 hectares of farmland in Taraba State.
Other arrests included a Milan-based trafficker caught with 24,480 tramadol pills at Lagos Airport, a dispatch rider conveying Colorado in Abuja, and multiple suspects across Kogi, Kaduna, Edo, and Anambra States.
Commending the efforts of NDLEA operatives across the country, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) urged officers to sustain the pressure on drug cartels and intensify the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
