The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed a transnational drug cartel operating between Nigeria, the UK, Brazil, Australia, and the UAE, intercepting narcotics worth over N6.4bn and arresting three key members.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed in a statement on Sunday that the operation began on August 26 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where officers intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials destined for Sydney, Australia. Hidden inside were 16 blocks of cocaine (17.9kg) alongside local charms allegedly meant to protect traffickers.
A freight agent, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, was first arrested in connection with the shipment, valued at AU$5.3m (₦5.3bn). Follow-up raids led to the arrests of Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, the cartel’s Nigerian coordinator, and Shola Adegoke, another senior member.
From their residences in Ikeja GRA and Lekki, officers recovered Canadian Loud cannabis, 9.6kg of Loud, a pump-action rifle, and cartridges. NDLEA said both suspects had criminal records in the UK—Ogunbiyi for murder and Adegoke for meth trafficking. The cartel’s alleged overall leader, Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (alias Mr Bee), is based in Dubai.
The agency also reported major seizures nationwide, including:
- 160,200 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in ceramic sanitary ware at Onne Port, Rivers State (₦1.1bn value).
- 625kg of cannabis recovered in Surulere, Lagos.
- 18.7 tonnes of skunk destroyed on two plantations in Taraba.
- 24,480 tramadol tablets seized from a Milan-bound passenger at Lagos airport.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the officers, urging them to sustain vigilance under the agency’s dual strategy of enforcement and War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy.
