Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully dismantled two major drug cartels behind six different consignments of cocaine concealed in stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers, following a series of intelligence-led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos.
The operations led to the arrest of five suspects, including the syndicate’s kingpin, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, a self-acclaimed businessman and real estate developer.
According to the NDLEA, the breakthrough came on 16th September 2025, when operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilograms concealed in cocoa butter body cream containers.
A cargo agent linked to the consignment was immediately arrested.Subsequent investigation revealed Alhaji Hammed Ode as the mastermind. Weeks of intelligence work led to his eventual arrest after the Agency sought the cooperation of the Police, where he had reported an unrelated dispute at Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos.
During interrogation, Ode confessed ownership of the consignment, stating he had purchased the cocaine for over ₦150 million. He claimed to have returned to Nigeria in 2024 after living for over 27 years across Europe—including Austria, Netherlands, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.
In a similar operation, another syndicate attempting to export cocaine to the United Kingdom was also dismantled by the NDLEA’s MMIA Strategic Command.
The chain of arrests began on 26th September, when operatives seized 2.10kg of cocaine concealed in hair cream containers at the Lagos airport.
The cargo agent’s confession led to the arrest of Smith David Korede, a furniture maker, at his residence in Mafoluku, Oshodi, where another 1.40kg of cocaine bound for the UK was discovered.
On the same day, another 1.00kg consignment of cocaine similarly concealed was intercepted, also linked to Korede. Two other shipments to the UK were later seized on 2nd October, with Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa arrested. The drugs, cleverly hidden in crayfish packs and stainless cups, weighed 1.00kg and 1.60kg respectively.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives attached to courier firms in Lagos foiled a smuggling attempt from Thailand, where 6.3kg of “Loud” cannabis was concealed in bedsheets and hibiscus flowers.
In Kano State, a joint NDLEA-Customs operation along the Danbatta–Daura Road led to the arrest of Sa’adu Ali, 38, and the seizure of 290,450 pills of Tramadol 250mg and Pregabalin capsules.
The Agency also made several arrests across other states:In Lagos, notorious dealer John Igbe (aka SammyBless) was arrested in Lekki with 550g of Colorado, while others were nabbed in Mushin with 109kg skunk, codeine syrup, and nitrous oxide.At Alaba Trade Fair Complex, operatives recovered 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 expired Diclofenac caplets.
In Kwara, Salisu Abubakar, 25, was arrested with 27,700 pills of Tramadol.In Kaduna, Blessing Ovaka, 50, and Dahiru Salisu, 27, were caught with over 532kg of skunk and Tramadol capsules.
In Ogun and Osun States, raids led to arrests and the destruction of over 14,000kg of cannabis plantations spanning 5.6 hectares.
In Edo, NDLEA operatives seized 244.5kg of skunk and destroyed farms yielding 10,897kg of cannabis.Also, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a parcel containing 3.272kg of Loud and Colorado sent from Lagos was intercepted along the Okene–Lokoja highway.
A follow-up led to the arrest of Tobi Odubote, 34, in Gwagwalada, while Ismail Abdurrahim, 32, was caught with 25.5kg of skunk along the Abaji–Abuja expressway.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA Commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, markets, and workplaces across Adamawa, Katsina, Niger, Lagos, and Imo States, among others.
