The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested three members of an international organised criminal group operating between Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia and the United Arab Emirates in connection with a N5.3 billion worth of cocaine confined in textile materials bound for Sydney, Australia at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

This major success was disclosed in a statement signed on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stating that the intelligence on the drug syndicates began on Tuesday, 26th August 2025, following the uncovering of 76 cartons of textile materials going to Sydney by officers of NDLEA at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

The statement reads, “An international organized criminal group (IOCG) operating between Nigeria, UK, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirate has been smashed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who in a two-week-long intelligence-led operations across parts of Lagos arrested three leaders of the cartel after intercepting large consignment of cocaine concealed in textile materials and local charms going to Sydney, Australia at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.

“The unravelling of the drug syndicate began on Tuesday, 26th August 2025, after NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials going to Sydney, Australia.”

According to the statement, a thorough search of the shipment carried out by the operatives led to the recovery of 16 big blocks of cocaine weighing 17.9 kilograms disguised in lace materials, parked with local charms to provide a spiritual cover against law enforcement detection.

Three key members of the drug group, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi and Shola Adegoke, were arrested as other members are still at large. Investigation by NDLEA revealed that other coordinating members of the group and the ring leader are operating overseas.

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