Major Drug Trafficking Convictions in Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recently announced the sentencing of five individuals involved in international drug trafficking operations. These individuals were found guilty of smuggling narcotics through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. The convictions resulted in a total of 21 years of imprisonment.
Key Convictions and Seizures
Three of the convicted individuals—Olasupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, and Sola Adegoke—were arrested after NDLEA operatives intercepted 17.9 kilograms of cocaine concealed in textile materials and local charms. These items were destined for Sydney, Australia, at the airport’s export shed on August 26, 2025.
Further investigations led to the recovery of 20.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis, from Ogunbiyi’s residence in Lekki. Additionally, a black Range Rover SUV with registration number RBC 459 EJ was seized from Adegoke’s residence in Ikeja GRA.
The three convicts were arraigned on five counts in charge number FHC/L/925C/2025 before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on October 30, 2025. They pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
In his judgment delivered on October 31, Justice Kakaki sentenced each of them to five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine. This brought the total sentence for the three individuals to 15 years. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the Range Rover SUV and a Toyota Venza car seized during the investigation to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Additional Case Involving Two More Convicts
In a separate case, two other drug syndicate leaders—Obunike Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Chukwurah—were arrested after NDLEA operatives intercepted 2.60 kilograms of cocaine and 27.90 kilograms of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts being transported to Gabon at the Lagos airport on July 19, 2025.
They were arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on November 4, under charge number FHC/L/980C/2025. After pleading guilty, both men were convicted and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment each or a fine of N2 million instead of the jail term.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of N4 million paid by Obunike as an attempted bribe to NDLEA officers.
Strategic Focus on Drug Cartels
The NDLEA noted that these convictions reflect its current strategy of targeting not only couriers but also cartel organisers and financial beneficiaries within drug syndicates. The agency is also focused on the forfeiture of assets connected to drug crimes.
Intensified Crackdown on Transnational Drug Syndicates
These convictions come amid the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to combat transnational narcotics syndicates operating through Nigerian airports. In recent years, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, has remained a major route for illicit drug movements to Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. This has prompted the agency to strengthen surveillance around export terminals.
In 2025, the NDLEA recorded multiple seizures of cocaine, tramadol, and cannabis variants at the airport. For example, in June, operatives intercepted 66 parcels of “Loud”—a potent strain of cannabis—disguised as green tea at the import shed of the Lagos airport. The consignment, weighing over 62 kilograms, was traced to a shipment that arrived from Thailand through the United Arab Emirates.
Asset Recovery and Financial Investigations
The agency has also prioritized asset recovery and financial investigations to dismantle the logistics networks of drug cartels. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to disrupt and eliminate drug trafficking activities at their source.