In a significant blow to drug trafficking operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of a notorious cocaine cartel led by a married couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, spanning across Lagos and Ogun states.
Acting on intelligence and with the collaboration of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), NDLEA operatives intercepted the couple on May 25, 2024, at Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, just as they were about to smuggle a massive consignment of cocaine into Ghana.
The haul was substantial, with the couple caught red-handed with 42 blocks of cocaine weighing a staggering 47.5 kilograms. Following their apprehension, a subsequent raid on their residence in Agbara, Ogun State, yielded an additional eight blocks of cocaine, totaling 10 kilograms, bringing the overall seizure to a whopping 57.5 kilograms.
But the crackdown didn’t end there. In a series of coordinated raids, NDLEA operatives also targeted other drug syndicates operating in Lagos. At the bustling Idumota market, known for its bustling trade, agents seized a staggering 1,100 ampoules of fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opioid, from two separate members of a drug trafficking ring. The deadly drug, which is known to be 100 times more potent than heroin, has been linked to a significant portion of overdose deaths, especially in the United States.
Furthermore, in a separate operation on Lagos Island, two individuals were apprehended with 432 grams of methamphetamine, adding to the agency’s haul of illicit substances.
In a separate interception at the Tincan port in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a container marked MSMU 7294325. Disguised as used vehicles, including a Toyota Highlander SUV from Toronto, the container concealed 15 parcels of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 7.5 kilograms.
The bust underscores the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and its associated societal ills. With the arrest of key players and the seizure of large quantities of narcotics, NDLEA’s relentless efforts aim to dismantle criminal networks and stem the flow of drugs into the region.
The arrested individuals are now in custody awaiting prosecution, signaling a victory in the ongoing battle against narcotics trafficking in Nigeria.
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a cocaine cartel led by a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Dauda, inโฆ pic.twitter.com/uhm89HJYIz
โ Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 28, 2024
