In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a trans-border cocaine syndicate, arresting a key member in Lagos and seizing massive quantities of drugs nationwide.
Twenty months after the arrest of cartel leaders Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, NDLEA has apprehended another top member, 39-year-old Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat.
Simbiat, who had been on the run since May 2024, was arrested at her Surulere residence on 9th December 2025.
During a thorough search, officers recovered 23.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a black suitcase in her children’s room. She admitted ownership of the consignment, estimated at over ₦5 billion in street value.
The original cartel leaders, Lookman and Toheebat, were arrested on 25th May 2024 while attempting to transport 47.5 kilograms of cocaine to Ghana along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
Follow-up operations at their Ogun State residence recovered an additional 10 kilograms, bringing the total seizure from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.
NDLEA operatives have continued to crack down on drug trafficking across the country. On 18th December, a businessman, Nwanwene Robinson Destiny, was intercepted at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with 1,020 pills of Tramadol 225mg and Tapentadol 200mg concealed in his luggage while attempting to fly to Italy. He admitted he was to receive €200 for the delivery.
At the Seme border, a 48-year-old Beninoise, Leocardi Josu, was caught attempting to smuggle 3,400 Tramadol tablets into Nigeria. Meanwhile, Abdullahi Adamu, 30, was arrested along the Okene-Lokoja highway with 28.4 kilograms of skunk and synthetic cannabis.
Oyo State also witnessed major seizures last week, including 125,000 Tramadol capsules and 1,800 ampoules of pentazocine found in a Toyota Hiace along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Two suspects, Ogunlade Kazeem, 54, and Adeleke Ismail, 30, were arrested with 185.4 kilograms of skunk at Challenge Motor Park, Ibadan. Osun State authorities recovered 405 kilograms of skunk during a forest raid at Owena/Ijesha, arresting Charles James, 45.
On the same day, Jamilu Zakari, 42, was nabbed at a tollgate along the Abuja-Kaduna highway with 14,960 Tramadol pills hidden in kolanut sacks transported from Abuja to Gusau, Zamfara State.
Across Nigeria, NDLEA officers have also continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization programs in schools, workplaces, and communities. Recent activities included lectures for students and staff at the Women Development Centre in Awka, Youth Craft Village in Malumfashi, Katsina, and members of NURTW in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers nationwide for their vigilance and professionalism. He urged continued diligence during the festive season to sustain drug supply and demand reduction efforts across the country.