NDLEA busts major drug cartel, arrests 3 key suspects, seizes N5.3bn cocaine headed to Australia
recovers 653kg Colos, Loud in Lagos
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have smashed an international organized crime group operating across Nigeria, the UK, Brazil, Australia, and the UAE, arresting three leaders in Lagos and seizing a large cocaine consignment concealed in textile materials and local charms bound for Sydney, Australia at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport following a two-week-long intelligence-led operation.
On Tuesday, 26th August 2025, NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport’s export shed intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials bound for Sydney, Australia, marking the beginning of the drug syndicate’s unraveling. A detailed search of the shipment revealed 16 large blocks of cocaine weighing 17.9 kilograms, concealed within lace materials accompanied by local charms intended to provide spiritual cover against law enforcement detection. Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, a freight agent and member of the syndicate, was apprehended first. The consignment was expected to yield an estimated street value exceeding 5.3 million Australian Dollars, equivalent to N5.3 billion.
A swift investigation into the group’s operations led to the identification of other key leaders, including Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi and Shola Adegoke. Ogunbiyi, the Nigeria-based mastermind, was apprehended at a hotel in Ikeja GRA on Wednesday, 3rd September, and subsequently taken to his Lekki residence, where a search yielded 21 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis, weighing 10.90kg, and a double-barreled pump action gun with cartridges.
A residence situated at 13 Reverend Ogunbiyi Street, Ikeja GRA, which served as a packaging facility for illicit drugs destined for export, was raided, resulting in the apprehension of another key figure in the syndicate, Shola Adegoke. A search of a black Range Rover SUV bearing the license plate RBC 459 EJ, found on the premises, yielded 17 parcels of Loud, weighing 9.60 kilograms. Furthermore, a black Toyota Venza car with registration number FST 771 JQ was previously seized from Ogunbiyi at the time of his arrest at the hotel.
Investigations revealed that while Ogunbiyi coordinates operations for the group in Nigeria, one Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (Mr. Bee) who is currently hibernating in Dubai, UAE is identified as the ringleader of the criminal network who coordinates their overseas operations. Shola Adegoke was found to have been jailed in the UK in 2021 for dealing in Methamphetamine and subsequently deported to Nigeria in 2024. Ogunbiyi was also found to have served a 14-year-jail term in the UK over a murder case before returning to Nigeria about eight years ago.
On Friday, 5th September, NDLEA operatives apprehended Gabriel Michael, a Nigerian residing in Milan, Italy, at the Lagos airport’s terminal 1 departure hall while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy. He was found in possession of 24,480 concealed pills of tramadol 100mg, 200mg and 225mg, claiming intended sale for 19,520 euros.
On Monday, 1st September, NDLEA operatives in Lagos, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Tunde Ayinla, 47, and Olawale Omotare, 54, while loading four distribution vehicles at their 28 Ola Street, Ijesha Surulere home. The seizures included 9kg of Canadian Loud, 5kg of Colorado, and 1,101 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 611kg, totaling 625 kilograms.
On Friday, September 5th, operatives carried out a raid in Lagos, arresting a couple, Andy David, 43, and Andy Esther, 44, and confiscating 24.4kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from their home in the Ajegunle area. In Kogi state, Musa Isah, 45, was apprehended with 53.400kg of skunk hidden in two cartons in the trunk of his Toyota Avensus car, marked ABC 338 SS. Furthermore, Yunusa Zakari, 23, was arrested in Auchi, Edo state, on Friday, September 5th, in connection with the earlier seizure of 233kg of skunk in Kakau, Kaduna state.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) praised the officers and men of various Commands of the Agency for their recent arrests and seizures, and enjoined them and their colleagues nationwide to intensify the ongoing balanced approach to the Agency’s drug control efforts.
