NDLEA busts cocaine warehouse, seizes N193bn worth of drugs in Ikorodu

NDLEA busts cocaine warehouse, seizes N193bn worth of drugs in Ikorodu

Ikorodu Cocaine Bust – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) busted a large warehouse in a private estate in the Ikorodu neighborhood of Lagos where 1.8 tonnes (1,855 kilogrammes) of the illegal drug were found.

This appears to be the largest single cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s top anti-narcotic organization.

NDLEA raids a drug warehouse

A minimum of four drug lords, including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager, were detained during the two-day, well-planned, and intelligence-driven operation that took place in various parts of Lagos state.

In a statement released by the NDLEA on Monday, the agency stated that the cartel’s kingpins in prison are Messrs. Soji Jibril, 69, of Ibadan, Oyo State, Emmanuel Chukwu, of Ekwulobia, Anambra State, Wasiu Akinade, of Ibadan, Oyo State, Sunday Oguntelure of Okitipupa, Ondo state, and Kelvin Smith, They are all associated with a global narcotics cartel that the Agency has been investigating since 2018.

The warehouse, which is located at 6 Olukuola Crescent in Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, was searched on Sunday, and the barons were rounded up from hotels and other hiding places throughout Lagos between Sunday night and Monday.

According to preliminary inquiry, the cartel attempted to sell the class A drugs to customers in Europe, Asia, and other regions of the world from warehouses in the residential neighborhood. They were kept in 13 drums and 10 travel bags.

The Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), praised all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the thorough investigation.

Including those of the American Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA), who stated that the bust is a historic blow to the drug cartels and a clear warning that they will all fail if they fail to recognize that the rules of the game have changed.