Two of the members of the syndicate arrested include Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, who were picked up on April 3, 2024.
They were arrested in their attempt to export 3.40kg cocaine on a Qatar Airlines flight to Oman through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
“While Imran was the courier conveying the drug consignment to Oman, Ishola recruited him for the head of the cartel, which investigation has now revealed to be Alhaji Kazeem Owoalade whose Indian residence permit bears Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun based in India.
“Efforts to dismantle his network in Nigeria paid off after five weeks of surveillance and follow-up operations when another member of the syndicate, Hamed Abimbola Saheed who works directly with the baron was arrested on Tuesday May 14 at Abule Egba area of Lagos.
“It was indeed Saheed who lodged Imran in a hotel a day before his aborted trip to Oman and equally dropped him and Ishola at the Lagos airport the day they were arrested.”
During a search of Hamed house, NDLEA operatives recovered some phenacetine, a cutting agent for Cocaine, weighing 900 grams.
The NDLEA said Hamed also confessed that the recovered substance was what was left of the consignment Imran was taking to Oman the day he was arrested.
Babafemi further said in the statement that Hammed’s arrest led to a follow-up operation at the home of the Owoalade couple at 20 Eyiaro street, Ogudu Orioke, Lagos where another suspect was arrested and a new model Toyota RAV4 SUV marked FKJ-773 JJ belonging to Rashidat and additional 400 grams of Cocaine recovered.
In addition, the already prepared suitcases to be used for illicit drug concealment, digital weighing scales and other paraphernalia were arrested.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officials attached to a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, May 15, intercepted two parcels, containing Cocaine and Amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter.
