NDLEA Dismantles Two Cocaine Cartels in Lagos, Arrests Syndicate Leader

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled two major drug cartels operating in Lagos, arresting five suspects, including the mastermind, Hammed Taofeek-Ode, after weeks of intelligence-led operations.

The operations, which lasted over three weeks, led to the seizure of six cocaine consignments concealed in stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers.

The breakthrough according to a statement on Sunday came on September 16, 2025, when NDLEA operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40kg hidden in cocoa butter body cream containers.

The Sunday statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said Investigations revealed Hammed Taofeek-Ode, who posed as a businessman and real estate developer, as the arrowhead of the syndicate.

The 56-year-old, who returned from the UK in 2024 after spending 27 years across Europe, admitted to investing over ₦150 million in the intercepted consignment. He was taken into custody with the support of the police.

NDLEA operatives also busted another syndicate attempting to ship cocaine to the United Kingdom.

* On September 26, officers seized 2.10kg of cocaine hidden in hair cream containers, leading to the arrest of Smith David Korede, a furniture maker, at his Oshodi base.

* Subsequent seizures on September 30 and October 2 linked him to more consignments totaling 3.40kg of cocaine, concealed in crayfish, stainless cups, and hair cream containers. Two other suspects, Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, were also arrested.

The statement noted that beyond Lagos, NDLEA intensified operations across the country:

*Kano: Joint operation with Customs on October 2 led to the arrest of Sa’adu Ali (38) with 290,450 pills of tramadol and pregabalin.

*Kaduna: Nearly 500kg of skunk and thousands of tramadol capsules seized.

*Ogun & Osun: 112kg skunk recovered in Obafemi Owode, while 14,000kg skunk plantation was destroyed in Osun forest reserve.

*Edo: 22 bags of skunk (244.5kg) intercepted, with over 10,000kg destroyed on four farms.

*Abuja/Kogi corridor: Cannabis consignments intercepted along highways with suspects arrested.

In Lagos, another notorious dealer, John Igbe (aka SammyBless), was arrested in Lekki with 550g of Colorado cannabis, while three others in Mushin were caught with 109kg skunk, codeine syrup, and nitrous oxide.

Meanwhile, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaigns in schools, markets, worship centres, and communities nationwide, including Adamawa, Katsina, Niger, Lagos, and Imo State.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operatives for their professionalism, stressing that the agency will keep dismantling drug cartels at all levels.

“Every arrest, seizure, and forfeited asset by these criminal syndicates signifies innocent lives saved and communities protected,” Marwa said.