The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a cocaine cartel led by a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Dauda, in Lagos and Ogun states.
The duo were arrested with the assistance of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on May 25, 2024, at Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, as they attempted to cross the land border to deliver the consignment to Ghana.
According to NDLEA’s Director, 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 an additional eight blocks of cocaine weighing 10 kilograms, bringing the total seizure to 57.5 kilograms.
The statement reads: “A cocaine trafficking cartel headed by a couple: Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda has been smashed in Lagos and Ogun States by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with multi-billion-naira worth of the illicit drug recovered in two major operations following the arrest of the kingpin and his queen in one of the intelligence-led raids.
“The duo were arrested on Saturday 25th May 2024 by operatives of a special operation unit in NDLEA with the support of the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States at Ibiye, along Lagos-Badagry expressway while attempting to cross the land border to deliver the consignment in Ghana.
“At the point of their arrest, 42 blocks of the Class A drug weighing 47.5 kilograms were found on them. A swift follow-up operation in their residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun State, led to the recovery of an additional eight blocks of the same drug weighing 10kg, bringing the total weight of the cocaine seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives also recovered 1,100 ampoules of fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opioid, from two members of a drug trafficking syndicate at the Idumota market in 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 by the special operation unit, no fewer than 1,100 ampoules of lethal synthetic opioid, fentanyl, weighing 6.48kg were recovered from a member of a drug trafficking syndicate, 34-year-old Ikeh Stanley Ifeanyi at the popular Idumota market in Lagos Island.
“No less than 790 ampoules of the dangerous opioid weighing 5.273kg were equally seized from another member of the fentanyl syndicate, 48-year-old Chieze Ogechukwu Benjamin who was also arrested at Idumota market. Fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opioid, which is 100 times more potent than heroin is currently responsible for over 70% of overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the US.
“Two other persons: Olayiwola Aremu Kazeem, 37, and Ogunfowora Taofik Ajibola, 35, were arrested on Lagos Island in a different raid by NDLEA officers with 432 grams of methamphetamine recovered from them.
NDLEA operatives at Tincan port in Lagos intercepted a container marked MSMU 7294325 on May 25, containing a Toyota Highlander SUV with 15 parcels of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 7.5kg. The container, which originated from Toronto and passed through Montreal, Canada, was declared to contain three used vehicles, including the Toyota Highlander. However, the hidden drug consignment was discovered and seized by the NDLEA.
Following the interception of the drug consignment, a swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Sunday Sodade and Oriyomi Adesina, who were supposed to receive the vehicle and the drugs. Additionally, a bribe of six million naira offered to NDLEA officers by the sender of the container, based in Canada, through his agent, has been recorded as evidence for the prosecution of the case.