NDLEA arrests cocaine trafficking couple, seizes drugs worth billions of naira

The National Drug Enforcement Agency has arrested a cocaine cartel run by a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Dauda, ​​in Lagos and Ogun states.

The two men were arrested with the assistance of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on May 25, 2024 in Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, while attempting to cross the land border into deliver the lot to Ghana.

According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the husband and wife were found with 42 blocks of cocaine weighing 47.5 kilograms. A subsequent raid on their residence in Agbara, Ogun State uncovered eight more blocks of cocaine weighing 10 kilograms, bringing the total seizure to 57.5 kilograms.

The statement said: “A cocaine trafficking cartel run by a couple: Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda has been busted in Lagos and Ogun states by operatives of the National Law Enforcement Agency on drugs, NDLEA, with an amount of several billion naira. illicit drug recovered in two major operations following the arrest of the Baron and his Queen during one of the raids carried out by the intelligence services.

“The two men were arrested on Saturday, May 25, 2024, by operatives of a special operations unit of the NDLEA with the support of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway , as they attempted to cross the land border to deliver the consignment. in Ghana.

“At the time of their arrest, 42 blocks of the Class A drug weighing 47.5 kilograms were found on them. A quick follow-up operation at their residence located at Plot 24/25 OPIC Extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun State, recovered eight more blocks of the same drug weighing 10kg, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized from the couple at 57.5 kilograms.

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives also recovered 1,100 ampoules of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, from two members of a drug trafficking syndicate at Idumota market in the Lagos Island. Additionally, 432 grams of methamphetamine were seized from two individuals in a separate raid on Lagos Island.

The statement said: “In another raid conducted by the special operations unit, as many as 1,100 vials of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl, weighing 6.48 kg, were recovered from a member of a drug trafficking syndicate, Ikeh Stanley Ifeanyi, 34, at the popular Idumota market on Lagos Island.

“As many as 790 ampoules of the dangerous opioid weighing 5.273 kg were also seized from another member of the fentanyl syndicate, Chieze Ogechukwu Benjamin, 48, who was also arrested at Idumota market. Fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than heroin, is currently responsible for more than 70% of overdose deaths and is a major contributor to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the United States.

“Two others: Olayiwola Aremu Kazeem, 37, and Ogunfowora Taofik Ajibola, 35, were arrested on Lagos Island during another raid by NDLEA operatives with 432 grams of methamphetamine recovered from them .

On May 25, NDLEA operatives at Tincan Port in Lagos intercepted a container marked MSMU 7294325, containing a Toyota Highlander SUV with 15 packages of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 7.5kg. The container, originating from Toronto and transiting through Montreal, Canada, contained three used vehicles, including the Toyota Highlander. However, the hidden drug consignment was discovered and seized by the NDLEA.

After the interception of the drug consignment, a quick follow-up operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Sunday Sodade and Oriyomi Adesina, who were believed to receive the vehicle and drugs. Additionally, a bribe of six million naira offered to NDLEA officials by the Canada-based shipper of the container through its agent was recorded as evidence for prosecution in the affair.

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