NDLEA has secured 21-year jail term for five international drug traffickers arrested at Lagos Airport.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured a total of 21 years’ imprisonment for five members of an international drug trafficking syndicate recently apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, over cocaine and opioid consignments destined for Australia and Gabon.
The convictions followed the interception of 68.9 kilograms of cocaine and tramadol at the Lagos airport, marking another major victory in the agency’s fight against organized narcotics crime.
According to NDLEA, Olasupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, and Sola Adegoke—identified as ringleaders of one of the trafficking cartels—were arrested after 17.9kg of cocaine concealed in textile materials and local charms was seized at the MMIA export shed on August 26, 2025, while being shipped to Sydney, Australia.
Subsequent investigations led to the recovery of 20.5kg of Canadian Loud (a potent strain of cannabis) from Ogunbiyi’s residence in Lekki, and the seizure of a Range Rover SUV (RBC 459 EJ) from Adegoke’s home in Ikeja GRA.
The trio were arraigned on October 30, 2025, before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on five counts under charge number FHC/L/925C/2025, to which they all pleaded guilty.
In his ruling on October 31, Justice Kakaki sentenced each defendant to five years in prison, totaling 15 years, and ordered the forfeiture of the seized Range Rover SUV and a Toyota Venza to the Federal Government.
In a separate case, Obunike Joseph Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah, identified as coordinators of another drug network, were arrested on July 19, 2025, after NDLEA operatives intercepted 2.60kg of cocaine and 27.90kg of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts bound for Gabon.
Both suspects were arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on November 4, under charge number FHC/L/980C/2025.
Upon their guilty pleas, the court sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment each or an option of a ₦2 million fine. Additionally, the ₦4 million bribe Obunike offered to NDLEA operatives was forfeited to the Federal Government.
The NDLEA reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking and pledged to intensify efforts in dismantling cross-border criminal networks threatening national and international security.
