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In series of intelligence led op­erations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos, operatives of the National Drug Law En­forcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully dismantled two major drug cartels behind six different consignments of cocaine concealed in walls of stainless cups, body cream and hair gel containers, leading to 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.

A statement by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokes­person, said the beginning of the end of the criminal syndi­cate’s operations began on Sep­tember 16, 2025, when NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed In­ternational Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilogrammes concealed in walls of cocoa butter body cream containers.

“A cargo agent was prompt­ly arrested. 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.

“During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment which he claimed he bought at over N150 million. He claimed to be a businessman and estate developer following his return from the United Kingdom in 2024. He had lived for over 27 years in many European coun­tries including Austria, Neth­erlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia before settling in the UK.

“In like manner, five other desperate attempts by another criminal syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom were also thwarted by operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA. The unravelling of the gang started on Septem­ber 26 following the seizure of 2.10kg cocaine concealed in walls of hair cream containers at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

“The apprehension of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday September 30, at his 3 Arowojobe Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos base where an­other consignment of 1.40kg cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him. Same day, another con­signment of 1.00kg cocaine with similar mode of conceal­ment also going to the UK was also intercepted at the export shed of the airport. The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith David Kore­de as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect.

“Two other cocaine laden consignments going to the UK were also intercepted by ND­LEA operatives at the export shed of the MMIA on Thurs­day, October 2. Two suspects: Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa linked to the seizures were promptly arrested. One of the consignments contains cray­fish, and 12 pieces of stainless cups used to conceal 1.00kg cocaine while the second con­signment also contains cray­fish, and 36 containers of hair cream used to conceal 1.60kg of cocaine.”