By: Sunday Ameh
At least five members of two international drug trafficking syndicates have been convicted and sentenced to a combined 21 years imprisonment following their arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos.
According to a statement released on Friday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the convictions followed the seizure of 68.9 kilograms of cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol from the accused at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The first set of convicts — Olasupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, and Sola Adegoke — were identified as leaders of a cartel with links to Australia. They were arrested after NDLEA officers intercepted 17.9 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed in textile materials and local charms destined for Sydney, Australia, on August 26, 2025.
A follow-up operation led to the recovery of 20.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from Ogunbiyi’s residence in Lekki, and the seizure of a black Range Rover SUV (registration number RBC 459 EJ) from Adegoke’s home in Ikeja GRA.
The trio were arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on October 30, 2025, on a five-count charge (FHC/L/925C/2025) and pleaded guilty. Justice Kakaki sentenced each defendant to five years imprisonment without the option of a fine — totaling 15 years for the three convicts. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the Range Rover SUV and a Toyota Venza linked to the drug operation to the Federal Government.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers also arrested Obunike Joseph Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah, both identified as members of another international cartel attempting to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of cocaine and 27.9 kilograms of tramadol hidden in motor spare parts en route to Gabon through the Lagos airport on July 19, 2025.
They were charged before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a six-count charge (FHC/L/980C/2025) and pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025. Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced each to three years imprisonment or an option of a ₦2 million fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of ₦4 million, allegedly paid by Obunike in an attempt to bribe NDLEA officers, to the Federal Government.
The NDLEA described the convictions as “a significant blow to international criminal networks attempting to use Nigerian airports as drug export corridors,” reaffirming its commitment to intensify its war against cross-border drug trafficking.
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