The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully dismantled an international drug cartel, seizing narcotics worth over ₦6.4 billion across multiple states and arresting key figures in the syndicate. The operation, which spanned from late August to early September 2025, saw coordinated raids in Lagos, Rivers, Taraba, Abuja, and several other states, disrupting one of the most sophisticated trafficking networks operating between Nigeria and several countries, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The cartel’s activities were uncovered after NDLEA officers intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, bound for Sydney, Australia. Hidden inside were nearly 18 kilograms of cocaine camouflaged among local charms allegedly designed to shield traffickers from detection. A freight agent, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, was arrested in connection with this shipment, which carried a street value exceeding ₦5.3 billion.
Further investigations led to the arrest of two prominent cartel operatives in Lagos—Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, the Nigerian coordinator, and Shola Adegoke, a senior member. Ogunbiyi was apprehended at his residence in Lekki, where officers recovered 21 parcels of “Canadian Loud” cannabis, a pump-action rifle, and ammunition. Adegoke was detained at a packaging house in Ikeja, with 9.6 kilograms of Loud cannabis found in a vehicle he used. It was revealed that Adegoke previously served time in the UK for methamphetamine trafficking, and Ogunbiyi spent 14 years in prison in Britain on a murder conviction. The cartel’s leadership abroad includes Adebisi Ademola Omoyele, alias Mr. Bee, based in Dubai.
Multiple seizures accompanied these arrests. At Onne Port, Rivers State, joint NDLEA-Customs operations uncovered 160,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth ₦1.1 billion hidden within ceramic sanitary wares. Across Lagos, Abuja, Kogi, Edo, Kaduna, Anambra, Niger, and Taraba, hundreds of kilograms of cannabis, including 625 kilograms seized in Surulere, Lagos, and 18.7 tonnes of skunk destroyed in Taraba, were confiscated. Additionally, at Lagos Airport, a Nigerian, Gabriel Michael, was arrested for attempting to smuggle 24,480 tramadol tablets to Italy, valued at €19,520.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, commented on the operation’s significance: “This successful multi-state operation highlights the agency’s enhanced capability in tackling drug trafficking syndicates through intelligence-led enforcement and international cooperation.” The NDLEA credited the use of advanced surveillance technologies, including AI-driven scanning and undercover investigations, for the breakthroughs in identifying and neutralizing the cartel.
The dismantling of this drug network is a key development against the backdrop of rising drug trafficking in Nigeria, which the NDLEA reports has increased by 35% this year. The agency seized not only drugs but also froze accounts linked to the syndicate, holding over ₦500 million in laundered funds. Collaborations with intelligence agencies such as Interpol and the UK’s National Crime Agency were pivotal in tracing the cartel’s operations that spanned continents.
The impact of these arrests and seizures extends beyond law enforcement. Illicit drug trafficking undermines public health, fuels crime, and affects families and communities nationwide. NDLEA’s ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy programs aim to reduce demand through education, sensitization, and rehabilitation efforts.
In summary, NDLEA’s recent bust of this international drug cartel, valued at over ₦6.4 billion, demonstrates strengthened enforcement capacity, international cooperation, and the resolve to disrupt drug trafficking routes. The follow-up investigations focus on further unraveling the cartel’s financial networks and dismantling remaining cells. Continued vigilance and public support remain crucial in Nigeria’s fight against illegal narcotics.
