Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed two major cocaine trafficking cartels responsible for six UK-bound shipments concealed in stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers.
According to a statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the breakthrough followed three weeks of coordinated, intelligence-led operations across Lagos, culminating in the arrest of six suspects, including the alleged ringleader, Alhaji Hammed Ode, who posed as a businessman and real estate developer.
Babafemi disclosed that the operation began on September 16, 2025, when NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilogrammes concealed in cocoa butter containers. The discovery led to the arrest of a cargo agent, whose confession eventually exposed Ode as the cartel’s mastermind.
After weeks of surveillance, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the police at Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos, apprehended Ode. During interrogation, he confessed to owning the N150 million consignment and admitted to having lived across several European and Asian countries before returning to Nigeria in 2024.
Similarly, another criminal syndicate’s attempt to export multiple cocaine consignments to the UK was thwarted by NDLEA operatives at MMIA. On September 26, officers intercepted 2.1 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in hair cream containers. The arrest of a cargo agent led investigators to Smith Korede, a furniture maker in Oshodi, from whose residence an additional 1.4 kilogrammes was recovered. Two more UK-bound consignments linked to him were later seized.
Further raids on October 2 led to the arrest of Ogunbiyi Taiwo and Popoola Olumuyiwa after NDLEA intercepted two more UK-bound shipments concealed in crayfish and hair cream containers, containing a total of 2.6 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Babafemi added that NDLEA officers also foiled an attempt to smuggle 6.3 kilogrammes of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in bedsheets and hibiscus flowers from Thailand.
Joint NDLEA–Customs operations in Kano led to the arrest of Sa’adu Ali, 38, with 290,450 pills of tramadol and pregabalin capsules. Other arrests across Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Edo, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, and the FCT yielded large seizures of cannabis, codeine, and other controlled substances.
At Lekki, NDLEA apprehended notorious dealer John Igbe, alias SammyBless, with 550 grammes of Colorado, while another group was caught with 109 kilogrammes of skunk and 20 bottles of codeine syrup in Mushin.
In Edo State, a Toyota Sienna loaded with 244.5 kilogrammes of skunk was seized at Igbanke, while 10.9 tonnes of cannabis were destroyed in Ovia North East.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their professionalism, assuring that the agency will continue to identify and dismantle every drug cartel operating within and outside Nigeria. “Every arrest, seizure, and asset forfeiture represents lives saved and communities protected,” Marwa said. “NDLEA will not relent until the menace of drug trafficking and substance abuse is eradicated.”
