NDLEA Nabs Kingpin Alhaji Ode, Seizes Six Cocaine Shipments

The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a significant operational success, revealing that its operatives have successfully dismantled two major drug cartels responsible for exporting six separate cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom.

Dependable NG reports that the intensive, intelligence-led operations spanned over three weeks across Lagos and culminated in the arrest of five suspects, including the key figure of the main syndicate, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode. Ode, who posed as a businessman and real estate developer, was identified as the mastermind behind the shipments, which utilised elaborate concealment methods involving the walls of stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers.

This crucial development was announced in a statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.

The Unravelling of the Kingpin and the Syndicate

Babafemi detailed that the operation against Ode’s criminal network began on September 16, 2025, at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. NDLEA operatives intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilograms concealed in the walls of cocoa butter body cream containers, leading to the prompt arrest of a cargo agent.

Further investigation traced the shipment back to Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode. After weeks of intelligence gathering, the NDLEA collaborated with the police to take the drug baron into custody following a reported dispute at the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Lagos.

During his preliminary interview, Ode, who claimed to have returned from the United Kingdom in 2024 after living in various European and Middle Eastern countries for over 27 years, admitted ownership of the consignment. He confessed to purchasing the cocaine for over N150 million.

Five Other UK-Bound Cocaine Shipments Intercepted

In parallel operations, five other desperate attempts by a separate syndicate to export cocaine to the UK were thwarted by the MMIA Strategic Command. The second gang began to unravel on September 26 with the seizure of 2.10kg of cocaine hidden in the walls of hair cream containers.

This led to the arrest of cargo agent, who pointed to the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker. Korede was arrested on September 30 at his Oshodi residence, where another 1.40kg of cocaine meant for the UK was recovered. Two more seizures, totalling 1.00kg and linked to Korede, were made the same day, bringing his total link to three seized consignments.

Two more UK-bound shipments were intercepted on October 2, with suspects Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa arrested. One consignment concealed 1.00kg of cocaine in stainless cups and crayfish, while the other hid 1.60kg of cocaine in hair cream containers and crayfish.

Nationwide Raids Target Various Drug Syndicates

The NDLEA’s sweep extended beyond Lagos to tackle drug distribution and cultivation across several states:

Lagos: A notorious dealer, John Igbe (a.k.a. “SammyBless”), was arrested in Lekki with 550 grams of Colorado. Elsewhere in Mushin, 109kg of skunk, 20 bottles of codeine syrup, and 2kg of nitrous oxide were seized from three suspects. A major recovery of 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 caplets of expired diclofenac was made at the Trade Fair Complex, Alaba.

Kano: A joint operation with Customs on October 2 led to the arrest of Sa’adu Ali and the seizure of 290,450 pills of tramadol and pregabalin.

Osun State: Operatives arrested three suspects and destroyed a massive 14,000kg of skunk on a 5.6-hectare cannabis plantation.

Edo State: A Toyota Sienna was intercepted with 244.5kg of skunk, leading to the arrest of Ineh Excellent Obindi. Another 10,897.35kg of skunk was destroyed on four farms.

Other States: Significant quantities of illicit drugs were also seized and suspects arrested in Kwara, Kaduna, Ogun, and Kogi/FCT, including the interdiction of 3.272kg of Loud en route from Lagos to Abuja.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the officers and men of the various commands for their “tenacity, professionalism, and balanced approach” to the agency’s drug control efforts.