NDLEA smashes two cocaine cartels behind six UK-bound shipments, arrests syndicate leader, five suspects
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has dismantled two major cocaine cartels behind six United Kingdom-bound consignments, arresting the suspected ringleader, Hammed Taofeek Ode, and five other members.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, the breakthrough followed a series of intelligence-led operations over three weeks across Lagos, culminating in the interception of 20.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in stainless cups, body cream and hair gel containers.
Babafemi said the operation began on September 16 when operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40kg hidden inside cocoa butter body cream containers.
He said the arrest of a cargo agent linked to the shipment led investigators to Ode, described as a businessman and real estate developer who recently returned from the United Kingdom (UK) after living across several European countries for over 27 years.
“During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment, which he said he bought for over N150 million,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA spokesperson further revealed that five other UK-bound cocaine shipments were foiled between September 26 and October 2, leading to multiple arrests.
One of the suspects, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker from Oshodi, Lagos, was arrested after three separate cocaine consignments were traced to him.
Two others, including Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, were arrested in connection with additional shipments concealed in crayfish, stainless cups, and hair cream containers.
The agency also thwarted an attempt to import 6.3kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from Thailand, concealed in bedsheets and hibiscus flowers.
In related operations across the country, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives destroyed 24,897 kilograms of cannabis (skunk) in forest reserves in Edo and Osun states.
“In Edo, 10,897.35kg of skunk was destroyed on four farms in Ovia north-east LGA, while in Osun, officers uncovered 14,000kg of the substance cultivated on 5.6 hectares of farmland,” he said.
