The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled two major drug cartels behind six UK-bound cocaine shipments concealed in stainless cup walls, body cream, and hair gel containers.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, saying the arrests followed three weeks of intelligence-led operations across Lagos.
He said the crackdown led to the arrest of five suspects and the kingpin, Alhaji Hammed Ode, who posed as a businessman and real estate developer.
The operation began on September 16 when operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilograms concealed in cocoa butter body cream containers.
A cargo agent was arrested, leading investigators to identify Hammed Ode as the mastermind. After weeks of surveillance, the NDLEA, with police assistance, arrested him at Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Lagos.
“During interrogation, Ode admitted ownership of the consignment valued at over ₦150 million,” Babafemi said. “He claimed to be a businessman who returned from the United Kingdom in 2024 after living for 27 years across Europe and Saudi Arabia.”
In a similar operation, NDLEA operatives foiled five other cocaine export attempts to the UK by another syndicate.
The crackdown began on September 26 when 2.10 kilograms of cocaine were found hidden in hair cream containers at the MMIA export shed. The arrest of a cargo agent led to the capture of the consignor, Smith Korede, a furniture maker, on September 30 at his Oshodi residence. Another 1.40 kilograms of cocaine meant for export were recovered from him.
“Same day, another 1.00-kilogram consignment with similar concealment was intercepted, also linked to Korede,” Babafemi added.
On October 2, two more cocaine-laden shipments were seized at the Lagos airport. Two suspects, Ogunbiyi Oluseye and Popoola Olumuyiwa, were arrested.
“One consignment contained crayfish and 12 stainless cups used to hide 1.00 kilogram of cocaine, while another had crayfish and 36 hair cream containers concealing 1.60 kilograms,” Babafemi said.
