The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled two major cocaine cartels behind multiple UK-bound drug shipments, arresting their arrowhead, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, alongside five others in a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos.
Spanning three weeks, the coordinated operations uncovered 20.5 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in body cream, hair gel, and stainless cup containers, marking a major victory in the agency’s international anti-narcotics efforts.
According to NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, “the breakthrough began on September 16, 2025, when operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine (13.4kg) hidden in cocoa butter containers. The trail led investigators to Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, a UK returnee who admitted owning the drugs, allegedly purchased for ₦150 million”.
He added,”Further investigations exposed another network linked to Smith David Korede, a furniture maker in Oshodi, whose syndicate attempted five separate cocaine shipments to the UK between September 26 and October 2. NDLEA operatives seized multiple consignments concealed in hair cream and crayfish containers, leading to the arrest of suspects Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa.
”The agency also intercepted a parcel containing 6.3kg of “Loud” cannabis smuggled from Thailand, while a joint NDLEA–Customs operation in Kano recovered 290,450 pills of Tramadol and Pregabalin from suspect Sa’adu Ali.
”In Lagos, notorious distributor John “SammyBless” Igbe was arrested with 550 grams of Colorado, while other raids yielded 109kg of skunk, 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup, and 550,000 expired Diclofenac tablets. Similar operations in Kwara, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Edo, and Kogi states led to multiple arrests and the destruction of over 24,897kg of cannabis farms.”
Babafemi revealed that at Igbanke, Edo State, operatives intercepted a vehicle loaded with 244.5kg skunk, while over 10,800kg of the substance was destroyed in nearby forests. “In Osun, NDLEA officers also uprooted 14,000kg of cannabis cultivated on 5.6 hectares,” he stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), hailed the operatives for their professionalism and persistence, emphasizing that the Agency will sustain its offensive against drug cartels “from the mules to their leadership.”
“Every arrest, seizure, and asset forfeiture signifies innocent lives saved and communities protected, here in Nigeria or abroad,” Marwa said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns across schools, markets, and worship centers, including engagements in Adamawa, Katsina, Niger, Lagos, and Imo States.
NDLEA Smashes Cocaine Cartels Behind Six UK-Bound Shipments, Arrests Kingpin, 5 Others
