NDLEA smashes cocaine cartels, arrests suspected arrowhead, 5 others

In a series of intelligence-led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully dismantled two major drug cartels behind six different consignments of cocaine concealed in the walls of stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers. The operations led to the arrest of […]

In a series of intelligence-led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully dismantled two major drug cartels behind six different consignments of cocaine concealed in the walls of stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers.

The operations led to the arrest of five suspects and, ultimately, the suspected arrowhead of the syndicate, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, who poses as a businessman and real estate developer.

A statement by Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s spokesperson, noted that the beginning of the end of the criminal syndicate’s operations started on September 16, 2025, when NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilograms concealed in the walls of cocoa butter body cream containers. A cargo agent was promptly arrested. According to him, further investigations revealed Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode as the mastermind of the shipment.

He added that after weeks of intelligence, it was established that the drug baron had reported a dispute at the Zone 2 Headquarters of the Police in Lagos, after which the Agency sought the cooperation of the police to get the suspect into custody.

During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment, which he claimed he bought for over N150 million.

Babafemi said the suspect claimed to be a businessman and estate developer, having returned from the United Kingdom in 2024.

According to him, he had lived for over 27 years in many European countries, including Austria, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, before settling in the UK.

In a like manner, five other desperate attempts by another criminal syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom were also thwarted by operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA.

The unravelling of the gang started on September 26 following the seizure of 2.10kg of cocaine concealed in the walls of hair cream containers at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

According to the NDLEA’s spokesperson, the arrest of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday, September 30, at his 3, Arowojobe Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, base where another consignment of 1.40kg of cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him.

‘’That same day, another consignment of 1.00kg of cocaine with a similar mode of concealment, also going to the UK, was intercepted at the export shed of the airport. The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith David Korede as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect,’’ Babafemi added.