NDLEA Smashes Drug Cartel, Arrests 3 Kingpins, Intercepts N5.3bn Cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed an international organised criminal group (IOCG) operating between Nigeria, UK, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The NDLEA swooped on the syndicate after a two-week-long intelligence-led operations across parts of Lagos, which led to the arrest of three leaders of the cartel and intercepting large consignment of cocaine concealed in textile materials and local charms going to Sydney in Australia.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday that the unravelling of the drug syndicate began on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, after NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos Airport intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials going to Sydney, Australia, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

He said, “A thorough search of the shipment led to the recovery of 16 big blocks of cocaine weighing 17.9 kilograms hidden in the lace materials parked with local charms to provide spiritual cover against law enforcement detection.

“A freight agent and member of the syndicate, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji was the first to be arrested. The consignment was expected to fetch the syndicate an estimated street value of over 5.3 million Australian Dollars, equivalent of N5.3 billion.

“Fast-paced investigation of the operations of the IOCG quickly unmasked other leaders of the group: Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi and Shola Adegoke. Ogunbiyi who is the arrowhead of the syndicate in Nigeria was arrested at a hotel in Ikeja GRA on Wednesday September 3, and swiftly taken to his house in Lekki area of Lagos where a search led to the recovery of 21 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis with a total weight of 10.90kg and a double-barreled pump action gun, with some cartridges.

“A house located at 13 Reverend Ogunbiyi Street, Ikeja GRA, where the criminal group used to package illicit drugs for export was subsequently raided and another leader of the syndicate Shola Adegoke arrested there. A black Range Rover SUV marked RBC 459 EJ found in the compound was searched and 17 parcels of Loud weighing 9.60 kilograms were recovered. A black Toyota Venza car with registration number FST 771 JQ was earlier recovered from Ogunbiyi at the point of his arrest at the hotel.

“Investigations revealed that while Ogunbiyi coordinates operations for the group in Nigeria, one Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (Mr. Bee) who is currently hibernating in Dubai, UAE, is identified as the ringleader of the criminal network who coordinates their overseas operations. Shola Adegoke was found to have been jailed in the UK in 2021 for dealing in Methamphetamine and subsequently deported to Nigeria in 2024. Ogunbiyi was also found to have served a 14-year-jail term in the UK over a murder case before returning to Nigeria about eight years ago.”

Meanwhile, a Milan, Italy-based Nigerian Gabriel Michael was on Friday September 5, arrested by NDLEA operatives at the departure hall of terminal 1 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy. He was found to have concealed a total of 24,480 pills of tramadol 100mg, 200mg and 225mg, which he claimed he was going to sell for 19,520 euros.