NDLEA seizes cocaine ‘worth N194bn’ in Lagos — presumed biggest in agency’s history

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized 1.8 tonnes of cocaine worth “N194 billion” in Lagos state.

In a statement on Monday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s media director, said the drugs were seized from a warehouse in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Babafemi, who described the development as one that “appears to be the biggest singular cocaine seizure” in the agency’s history, added that five persons, including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager, were arrested.

“Kingpins of the cocaine cartel in custody include: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo state; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, who hails from Ekwulobia, Anambra state; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo state; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo state, and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica,” the statement reads.

“They are all members of an international drug syndicate that the agency has been trailing since 2018.

“Located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, the warehouse was raided on Sunday 18th September, 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday 19th September.

“Preliminary investigation reveals the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.

“They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.”