By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
NIGERIA’s ANTI-narcotics agency said it has stepped up its clampdown on transnational drug networks with a string of coordinated raids that exposed two cocaine cartels behind six separate shipments bound for the United Kingdom (UK).
At the weekend, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said in a trail it conducted over three weeks, its operations uncovered elaborate concealments of narcotics inside everyday products, including body creams and stainless cups, and led to multiple arrests, major seizures, and the destruction of cannabis farms across several states.
Momentum however shifted on 16 September 2025 when the agency’s officers stationed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.4 kilograms.
The drugs were concealed within the walls of cocoa butter body cream containers.
That interception triggered a wider investigation that exposed a Lagos-based trafficking ring and led to the arrest of a cargo agent, before zeroing in on the cartel’s alleged leader, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, who presented himself as a businessman and real estate developer.
Investigations confirmed that Ode masterminded the cocaine shipment, which he admitted purchasing for over ₦150 million.
During his preliminary interview, he disclosed that he had lived in several European countries—including Austria, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, before settling in the United Kingdom (UK) for over two decades.
His eventual return to Nigeria in 2024 preceded his involvement in the transnational drug trade, which NDLEA operatives successfully disrupted through intelligence collaboration and coordinated enforcement.
The dismantling of another trafficking network followed soon after. Between 26 September and 2 October, NDLEA operatives at MMIA uncovered five additional cocaine consignments concealed within hair gel, body cream, and stainless cup containers – all destined for the United Kingdom.
The first interception occurred on 26 September, when 2.10 kilograms of cocaine were found in the walls of hair cream containers.
The ensuing arrest of a cargo agent led investigators to the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker based in Oshodi, Lagos.
A subsequent raid at Korede’s residence on 30 September yielded another 1.40 kilograms of cocaine prepared for export, while a separate consignment of 1.00 kilogram of cocaine, similarly concealed, was seized the same day.
The cargo agent apprehended in connection with that case also identified Korede as the principal consignor, linking him to three separate shipments intercepted at MMIA.
Further operations on 2 October uncovered two additional cocaine-laden shipments bound for the UK.
These were concealed within crayfish packages, 12 stainless steel cups, and 36 containers of hair cream. Two suspects, Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, were arrested in connection with these consignments.
NDLEA operatives also intercepted 6.3 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis—hidden within bedsheets and hibiscus flowers in a consignment arriving from Thailand.
The seizure, conducted through courier monitoring operations, thwarted an attempt by another trafficking syndicate to introduce the drug into Lagos.
Elsewhere, a joint operation between NDLEA and Nigeria Customs Service officers along the Danbatta–Daura Road in Kano on 2 October led to the arrest of 38-year-old Sa’adu Ali.
The team seized 290,450 pills of tramadol 250mg and pregabalin capsules from his vehicle.
In Lagos, operatives arrested a notorious dealer identified as John Igbe, popularly known as “SammyBless,” who distributed illicit drugs in the Lekki and Ajah areas.
He was arrested on 30 September at Admiralty Road, Lekki, with 550 grams of Colorado, a synthetic form of cannabis, already packaged for retail.
That same day, three additional suspects – Idris Lukman, Fuad Abdulsalam, and Mobolaji James – were apprehended in Mushin, with 109 kilograms of skunk, 20 bottles of codeine syrup, and 2 kilograms of nitrous oxide recovered.
Another large cache of codeine and expired drugs was seized at the Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, where 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 caplets of expired diclofenac were recovered.
The agency’s nationwide enforcement efforts extended beyond Lagos.
In Kwara State, operatives arrested 25-year-old Salisu Abubakar at Bode Saadu, Moro Local Government Area, on 29 September with 27,700 tramadol pills.
On the same day in Kaduna State, 50-year-old Blessing Ovaka was caught with 498.5 kilograms of skunk at Kudandan, Chikun Local Government Area.
Two days later, 27-year-old Dahiru Salisu was apprehended with 34,180 tramadol capsules along the Kaduna–Zaria road.
In Ogun State, NDLEA officers raided Isheri, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, on 29 September, where suspect Abubakar Audu was arrested with 112 kilograms of skunk and 16 grams of tramadol.
On 2 October, the agency destroyed 14,000 kilograms of skunk across 5.6 hectares of cannabis plantation in the Owena/Ijesha forest reserve, Osun State, and arrested three suspects: Chuimieze Shedrack, 28; Sunday John, 25; and Solomon Okopko, 27.
A further 142 kilograms of processed cannabis were seized during the operation.
Edo State also recorded major breakthroughs.
On 1 October, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle marked KUJ 47 NW at Igbanke, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, containing 22 bags of skunk weighing 244.5 kilograms.
A 28-year-old suspect, Ineh Excellent Obindi, was arrested. Subsequently, 10,897.35 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on four cannabis farms covering over 4.3 hectares in Ugbodo forest, Ovia Northeast Local Government Area.
Two suspects, Michael Ayang, 40, and Bernard New Year (also known as Don), 47, were arrested with 223.5 kilograms of processed cannabis and seeds.
Further enforcement in Kogi State resulted in the interception of a parcel sent from Lagos to Abuja containing 3.272 kilograms of Loud and a sachet of Colorado along the Okene-Lokoja highway.
Follow-up operations led to the arrest of the sender, Tobi Odubote, 34, at Gwagwalada Park in Abuja. Another suspect, Ismail Abdurrahim, 32, was arrested with 25.5 kilograms of skunk along the Abaji–Abuja expressway on 2 October.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools, workplaces, and communities.
Outreach activities during the week included lectures for students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Hammawa Toungo, Adamawa State; Government Day Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State; and Day Secondary School, Unguwan Nasarawa, Kontagora, Niger State.
The campaign also reached traders at Ladega Market, Ikorodu, Lagos. In Imo State, the NDLEA Command paid an advocacy visit to the First Lady, Barrister Chioma Uzodinma, at the Government House in Owerri.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the agency’s MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Edo, Kwara, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Kogi, and FCT Commands for their professionalism and resilience in executing the operations.
“We will continue to target and dismantle every identified drug cartel at every level of their operations—from the mules to the dealers in between and up to their leadership,” Gen. Marwa stated.
“These successful operations should serve as a warning that NDLEA will not relent until the threat posed by substance abuse and illicit trafficking is eradicated.
Every arrest, seizure, and forfeited asset represents innocent lives saved and communities protected- -whether here in Nigeria or beyond.”
The NDLEA reaffirmed its resolve to intensify surveillance and international cooperation to intercept transnational drug syndicates exploiting Nigeria’s borders and transport networks.
The agency stated that its sustained intelligence-sharing strategy, coupled with expanded inter-agency collaboration, will continue to deliver results in the fight against narcotics and psychotropic substances.
