NDLEA declares India-based Nigerian couple wanted for ‘running drug cartel’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade and Rashidat Ayinke, his wife, wanted for allegedly running a drug cartel. 

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that the couple “runs a cocaine cartel from India”.

Babafemi said the couple’s involvement in the drug ring was discovered after the “arrest of four members of the syndicate in Lagos”.

The NDLEA spokesperson said Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, two members of the syndicate, were arrested trying to export 3.40 kilogrammes of cocaine to Oman through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on April 3.

He said five weeks of surveillance resulted in the arrest of one Hamed Abimbola Saheed, a member of the group, on May 14 at a residence in the Abule Egba area of Lagos.

Babafemi added that Saheed “works directly with the baron” and was the person “who lodged Imran in a hotel a day before his aborted trip to Oman and equally dropped him and Ishola at the Lagos airport the day they were arrested”.

“During a search of Hamed house, NDLEA operatives recovered some phenacetine, a cutting agent for cocaine, weighing 900 grams. He confessed that the recovered substance was what was left of the consignment Imran was taking to Oman the day he was arrested,” the statement reads.

“His arrest led to a follow-up operation at the home of the Owoalade couple at 20 Eyiaro street, Ogudu Orioke, Lagos, where another suspect was arrested and a new model Toyota RAV4 SUV marked FKJ-773 JJ belonging to Rashidat and additional 400 grams of cocaine recovered in addition to already prepared suitcases to be used for illicit drug concealment, digital weighing scales, and other paraphernalia.”

Also, the NDLEA spokesperson said operatives of the agency intercepted two parcels containing cocaine and amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter on May 17 in Lagos.

He said the seized cocaine was being exported to China, adding that the amphetamine was destined for the United Kingdom (UK).

Babafemi noted that one Emeka Nwadiaro, known as Mega, was also arrested over an alleged attempt to export 3.6 kilogrammes of the strain of cannabis called Loud to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He said the substance was concealed in 36 water flasks and was discovered at a logistics company in Port Harcourt, Rivers, on May 16.

He added that the agency also intercepted a Mercedes Benz bus loaded with 840 kilogrammes of cannabis at Olojo in Ojo LGA, Lagos.

“Another suspect, Lawal Adam, was nabbed along Otukpo road, Aliade, Benue state on Friday, May 17, with 75,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol and excel-5,” he said.

“Two suspects, Olisa Etisi, 32, and Jonathan Umeh, 25, were arrested along Owerri – Onitsha road, Imo state, following the discovery by NDLEA operatives of a big gas cylinder used to conceal six blocks of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 3.85kg.”