The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled an international organised criminal group (IOCG) operating between Nigeria, the UK, Brazil, Australia and the UAE, following a two-week, intelligence-led operation in Lagos.
It was understands that three leaders of the cartel were arrested after officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted a large cocaine shipment concealed in textile materials and “local charms” en route to Sydney, Australia.
The bust reportedly began on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, when NDLEA officers at the MMIA export shed intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials bound for Sydney.
A thorough search uncovered 16 big blocks of cocaine (17.9kg) hidden inside lace fabrics and packed with charms “to provide spiritual cover against law-enforcement detection,” according to an NDLEA statement.
A freight agent, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, identified as a syndicate member, was arrested immediately. The consignment carried an estimated street value of AU$5.3m (₦5.3bn).
Fast-tracked investigations unmasked two other leaders: Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi and Shola Adegoke.
Ogunbiyi, described as the cartel’s Nigeria coordinator, was arrested on Wednesday, September 3, at a hotel in Ikeja GRA. A follow-up search at his Lekki residence yielded 21 parcels of Canadian Loud (10.90kg) and a double-barrel pump-action gun with cartridges.
A black Toyota Venza (FST 771 JQ) was also recovered at the point of arrest.
In a statement signed and issued Sunday, September 7, 2025, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, said operatives raided a house at 13 Reverend Ogunbiyi Street, Ikeja GRA, used by the syndicate to package drugs for export. There, another leader, Shola Adegoke, was arrested.
According to him, a black Range Rover (RBC 459 EJ) parked in the compound was searched; 17 parcels of Loud (9.60kg) were recovered.
Investigators identified Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (alias “Mr. Bee”), currently “hibernating” in Dubai, UAE, as the cartel’s overall ringleader coordinating offshore operations.
Adegoke was jailed in the UK in 2021 for methamphetamine dealing and deported in 2024.
It was understands that Ogunbiyi served 14 years in the UK over a murder case before returning to Nigeria about eight years ago.
Airport, Seaport Hits: Tramadol, Codeine Seizures
At MMIA, Friday, September 5, operatives arrested Gabriel Michael, a Milan-based Nigerian, at Terminal 1 while boarding an Air France flight to Italy. He concealed 24,480 tramadol pills (100mg/200mg/225mg) and claimed he intended to sell them for €19,520.
At WACT, Onne Port (PHPC), Rivers State, on Thursday, September 4, a joint NDLEA–Customs examination uncovered 160,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a 40-ft container masked with 220 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares.
The shipment, watch-listed and tracked by an NDLEA special operations unit, has an estimated street value of over ₦1.1bn.
Abuja (FCT): Thursday, September 4, a dispatch rider, Joel Bernard (32), was arrested in Gwarimpa with 3.1kg of “Colorado” (synthetic cannabis).
Lagos (Ijesha, Surulere): Acting on intelligence, on Monday, September 1, operatives arrested Tunde Ayinla (47) and Olawale Omotare (54) while loading four distribution vehicles at 28 Ola Street. Recovered: 9kg Canadian Loud, 5kg Colorado, and 1,101 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud (611kg), total: 625kg.
Lagos (Ajegunle): Friday, September 5, a couple, Andy David (43) and Andy Esther (44), were arrested with 24.4kg of skunk at their residence.
Kogi: Musa Isah (45) was arrested with 53.400kg of skunk hidden in two cartons in the trunk of a Toyota Avensis (ABC 338 SS).
Edo (Auchi): Friday, September 5, Yunusa Zakari (23) was nabbed in a follow-up to an earlier 233kg skunk seizure in Kakau, Kaduna State.
Anambra (Onitsha): Wednesday, September 3, operatives arrested Ayouk Nelson (28) at 61 Bida Road with 11,000 tramadol pills.
Niger (Minna–Bida Road): Tuesday, September 2, a white Toyota Hilux was intercepted; search uncovered 30 bags of skunk (342kg). Driver Afolayan Ayodele (54) was arrested.
NDLEA Busts Global Cocaine Ring, Nabs Three Lagos Kingpins, Traces Dubai Boss [Photos]
NDLEA
In Taraba, NDLEA destroyed 18,750kg (18.75 tonnes) of skunk cultivated on 7.5 hectares at Joro-Ade village, Ardo-Kola LGA, on Tuesday, September 2. Farm owners Mako Zmar (55) and Sani Titus (45) were arrested.
The agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) outreach continued nationwide with sensitisation visits and lectures to:
Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lafia (Nasarawa);
Ward heads in Kano Municipal Council (Kano);
Members of the Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, Awgu LGA (Anambra);
The Ohi of Ihima, HRH Alhaji Abdulraheem Ahmed Ogido, and Okehi LGA Council of Traditional Rulers (Kogi), among others.
Commending operatives of MMIA, PHPC/Onne, Lagos, FCT, Anambra, Taraba, Kaduna, Kogi and Niger Commands for the week’s arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) urged them and their colleagues nationwide to “intensify the ongoing balanced approach to drug control.”
UK police said Tuesday they arrested a 14-year-old schoolgirl in the northwestern English city of Manchester after two students and a staff member were wounded in a school stabbing.
The girl was arrested on suspicion of assault and was in custody for questioning, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
Three people were injured — a 14-year-old schoolgirl, a 14-year-old schoolboy and a 27-year-old man who is a member of staff — with what were believed to be stab wounds.
“All were taken to hospital; however, injuries are thankfully not believed to be serious, and all are stable at this time,” police said following the incident at the Co-op Academy north of central Manchester.
The school decided to go into lockdown following the attack, as emergency vehicles surrounded the building, the Manchester Evening News reported.
“Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance,” police chief inspector Jon Shilvock said.
The UK government is trying to clamp down on youth knife crime and the sale of banned knives and machetes, including on online platforms.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged in February over the suspected stabbing of two boys at a London school.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) Kwara State Command, has arrested a 34-year-old man, Akinola Tosin, for allegedly defrauding a Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator using a fake bank transfer alert while also impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASC 1 Ayoola Michael, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday, June 8, 2026 said the suspect was apprehended following a complaint from a POS operator in the state.
According to the statement, the suspect allegedly obtained N40,600 from the operator after presenting a fake debit alert as proof of payment.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect collected the sum of Forty Thousand Six Hundred Naira (#40,600) after presenting a fake debit alert to the POS operator, deceiving the victim into believing a successful transfer had been made,” the statement read.
“Further investigations revealed that the suspect had been impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army using a fake military identity card bearing his name, alongside military-related paraphernalia, which he allegedly used to gain public trust and facilitate his criminal activities.
“The suspect also confessed to previous fraudulent activities involving multiple victims, while further investigation uncovered a suspected accomplice, identified as one Feranmi Idoko Godwin, who is currently at large.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and conclude investigations.
“Items recovered from the suspect include, 2 Opay ATM cards, 2 UBA ATM cards, 2 First Bank ATM cards, 1 PalmPay ATM card and 1 National Identity Card.
“The suspect will be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The NSCDC Kwara State Commandant, Commandant Abbas Ndah Mohammed, reaffirmed the Corps’ unwavering commitment to combating crime and other forms of criminality, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and verify electronic transactions before releasing cash, goods or other valuables.”
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, for an alleged contract scam to the tune of N1,098,961,500 (One Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only).
The couple were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering of obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Taiwo and Omotola were arrested when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a proprietor of a private school in Delta State, petitioned the EFCC alleging that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Kenechukwu further alleged that a total sum of N1,980,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Naira Only) was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc.
Investigation further revealed that the couple invested the proceeds of the illicit activities in the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti, namely: Town Tavern Lounge, located at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, Ado-Ekiti, and a four-bedroom bungalow located on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate, Ado-Ekiti
The Commission had on Monday, May 25, 2026 secured the interim attachment of the two properties.
Count 2 of the charge reads:
“That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
When the charges were read to them The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants.
Justice Usman adjourned the matter until Thursday, June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered the remand of the defendants in the EFCC holding facility.
