NDLEA intercepts 174 parcels of cocaine concealed in body cream containers at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have dismantled two major drug cartels behind six separate cocaine consignments bound for the UK.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, the operations lasted over three weeks and uncovered drugs hidden in the walls of stainless steel cups, body cream and hair gel containers.

Babafemi said on September 16, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.4kg concealed in cocoa butter body cream containers.

A cargo agent was immediately arrested, leading investigators to 56-year-old Hammed Taofeek Ode, who the agency described as the “arrowhead of the syndicate”.

The spokesperson said after weeks of intelligence gathering, NDLEA sought police cooperation to arrest Ode, who was later found to have lived in several European countries for over 27 years before returning to Nigeria in 2024.

“During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment which he claimed he bought at over N150 million. He described himself as a businessman and real estate developer,” the statement reads.

In a similar development, five other attempts by another cartel to export cocaine to the UK were foiled between September 26 and October 2.

The statement said on September 26, the NDLEA intercepted 2.1kg of cocaine hidden in hair cream containers at MMIA. This led to the arrest of one Smith David Korede, a furniture maker from Mafoluku, Oshodi, where another 1.4kg cocaine consignment was recovered.

Two more suspects — Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa — were later arrested after two additional UK-bound shipments were seized on October 2.

Babafemi said operations in other states also yielded results.

He said in Kwara, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Edo, and Kogi, several suspects were arrested with varying quantities of tramadol and cannabis.

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the officers for their “tenacity, professionalism, and balanced approach” in tackling illicit drug trafficking.

“We’ll continue to target and dismantle every identified drug cartel at every level of their operations — from the mules to the dealers and up to their leadership,” he said.

“Every arrest, seizure, and asset forfeited by these criminal syndicates signifies innocent lives saved and communities protected.”