The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled two major drug trafficking syndicates attempting to smuggle multiple consignments of cocaine to the United Kingdom, arresting six suspects, including the alleged ringleader, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode.
According to the agency, the breakthrough followed a series of intelligence-led operations conducted over three weeks across Lagos State, leading to the seizure of six separate cocaine shipments concealed in items such as stainless cup walls, body cream, and hair gel containers.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the operation culminated in the arrest of “five suspects and ultimately the arrowhead of the syndicate, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, who parades as a businessman and real estate developer.”
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The agency revealed that the crackdown began on September 16, 2025, when operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilograms, concealed in cocoa butter body cream containers. A cargo agent was promptly arrested at the scene.
“Further investigations revealed Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode as the mastermind of the shipment, and after weeks of intelligence, it was established that the drug baron had reported a dispute at the Zone 2 headquarters of the Police in Lagos, after which the agency sought the cooperation of the police to get the suspect into custody,” the statement read.
During interrogation, NDLEA disclosed that “Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment, which he claimed he bought at over ₦150 million.”
The agency further stated, “He claimed to be a businessman and estate developer following his return from the United Kingdom in 2024.”
NDLEA added that Ode “had lived for over 27 years in many European countries, including Austria, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, before settling in the UK.”
According to SaharaReporters, In a related development, NDLEA operatives at MMIA thwarted five other attempts by another criminal syndicate to export cocaine to the United Kingdom.
The agency reported that the operation began on September 26, 2025, with the interception of 2.1kg of cocaine hidden in hair cream containers at the Lagos airport export shed. This led to the arrest of a cargo agent, after which further investigations uncovered an additional 1.4kg consignment from the Oshodi residence of the syndicate’s kingpin, Smith David Korede.
Subsequent raids intercepted additional shipments weighing 1kg and 1.6kg, all destined for the UK. Two other suspects, Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, were also arrested in connection with the smuggling network.
In another operation, NDLEA intercepted 6.3kg of “Loud”, a potent cannabis strain smuggled from Thailand and concealed in bedsheets and hibiscus flowers.
A joint operation by NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) along the Danbatta-Daura Road in Kano State also led to the arrest of Sa’adu Ali and the seizure of 290,450 pills of tramadol and pregabalin.
In Lagos, NDLEA apprehended several high-profile suspects, including notorious drug dealer John Igbe, popularly known as SammyBless, who was caught with 550 grams of synthetic cannabis.
Three other suspects were arrested in Mushin, Lagos, with 109kg of skunk, 20 bottles of codeine syrup, and 2kg of nitrous oxide. Additional seizures included 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 caplets of expired diclofenac at the Trade Fair Complex in Alaba.
Nationwide operations also yielded significant seizures. In Kwara State, NDLEA arrested Salisu Abubakar with 27,700 tramadol pills. In Kaduna State, Blessing Ovaka was arrested with 498.5kg of skunk, while Dahiru Salisu was caught with 34,180 tramadol capsules.
In Ogun State, Abubakar Audu was apprehended with 112kg of skunk and 16 grams of tramadol.
In Osun State, NDLEA destroyed 14,000kg of skunk on a 5.6-hectare cannabis plantation and recovered an additional 142kg of the substance, arresting three suspects.
Similarly, in Edo State, operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle carrying 244.5kg of skunk in Igbanke and later destroyed 10,897kg of cannabis across four farms in Ugbodo Forest, arresting two suspects.
Further operations along the Okene–Lokoja highway and in Abuja resulted in the seizure of more consignments of Loud, Colorado, and skunk, with several arrests made.
NDLEA stated that these coordinated operations underscore its determination to disrupt drug trafficking networks and safeguard Nigerian communities from the menace of illicit substances.
