The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled an international drug cartel with networks across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, arresting three kingpins and seizing narcotics worth over ₦6.4 billion.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the two-week operation began on August 26 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, when officers intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials bound for Sydney, Australia. Hidden inside were 17.9kg of cocaine sewn into lace fabrics, alongside local charms allegedly meant to provide “spiritual cover” against detection.
A freight agent, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, was arrested first. Further investigations led to the capture of Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, identified as the cartel’s Nigerian coordinator, and Shola Adegoke, another senior member.
Ogunbiyi was arrested at a hotel in Ikeja GRA, with a search of his Lekki residence uncovering 21 parcels of Canadian Loud (10.9kg) and a pump-action rifle. Adegoke was apprehended at the cartel’s packaging house in Ikeja GRA, where 9.6kg of Loud was recovered from a Range Rover SUV.
The cartel’s alleged ringleader, Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (alias Mr. Bee), is said to be operating from Dubai. NDLEA noted that Adegoke had previously served a UK prison term for meth trafficking, while Ogunbiyi had completed a 14-year sentence in Britain for murder.
In separate operations, NDLEA reported other major seizures:
- ₦1.1bn worth of codeine syrup (160,200 bottles) from a 40-foot container at Onne Port, Rivers State.
- 653kg of cannabis derivatives in raids across Lagos, Abuja, Kogi, Edo, Anambra, Niger, Kaduna, and Taraba.
- Arrest of Gabriel Michael, a Milan-based Nigerian, with 24,480 tramadol pills at Lagos Airport.
- Interception of a dispatch rider in Abuja with 3.1kg of Colorado.
- Recovery of 625kg of Loud and Colorado from a Surulere, Lagos hub.
- Arrest of a couple in Ajegunle, Lagos, with 24.4kg of skunk.
- Destruction of 18.7 tonnes of cannabis farms in Taraba State.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers for their efforts, stressing the need to sustain the agency’s balanced strategy of law enforcement and public advocacy under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
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