The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared a couple, Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade (alias Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun) and Rashidat Ayinke Owoalade (alias Bolarinwa Rashidat Ayinke), wanted for allegedly operating a cocaine cartel from India. This announcement follows the arrest of four members of their syndicate in Lagos.
Arrests and Seizures in Lagos
On April 3, 2024, NDLEA operatives arrested Imran Olalekan and Ishola Olalekan at Murtala Muhammed International Airport as they attempted to smuggle 3.40kg of cocaine to Oman via Qatar Airlines. Imran was the courier, while Ishola recruited him for the head of the cartel, Kazeem Owoalade. Subsequent investigations linked the Owoalades to these operations.
On May 14, 2024, another syndicate member, Hamed Abimbola Saheed, was arrested in Abule Egba, Lagos. Saheed, who facilitated Imran’s travel arrangements, was found with 900 grams of phenacetine, a cutting agent for cocaine. A search of Saheed’s home revealed additional evidence, leading to a raid on the Owoalade couple’s residence in Ogudu Orioke, Lagos, on May 15, 2024. During this raid, another suspect was arrested, and law enforcement recovered a new Toyota RAV 4 SUV, 400 grams of cocaine, and various drug concealment paraphernalia.
Broader Crackdown on Drug Trafficking
The NDLEA also intercepted two parcels at a courier firm in Lagos containing 587 grams of cocaine bound for China and amphetamines hidden in vape pens and shea butter heading to the UK. Further operations led to the foiling of a 3.6kg cannabis shipment to Dubai from a logistics company in Port Harcourt. The consignment’s owner, Emeka Nwadiaro, aka Mega, was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, on May 16, 2024.
Additional Arrests and Seizures Nationwide
The agency’s operations extended across multiple states:
Lagos: A Mercedes Benz bus carrying 840kg of cannabis was intercepted, and the driver, Samuel Henry, was arrested.
Benue: Lawal Adam was apprehended with 75,000 opioid pills, including tramadol and exol-5.
Imo: Two suspects, Olisa Etisi and Jonathan Umeh, were caught with 3.85kg of cannabis concealed in a gas cylinder.
Borno: A 70-year-old man, Adamu Mohammed, was arrested with 2kg of cannabis and diazepam, and Gaddafi Sani was detained with 30kg of cannabis.
Yobe: A large drug consignment, including 91.1kg of opioids and 13kg of cannabis, was seized from a petrol tanker, leading to the arrest of the driver, Ismaila Ali.
Niger, Sokoto, and Kano: Four suspects were detained in connection with 2,025 pieces of improvised explosive device materials.
Katsina: Muhammad Lawal was arrested with 1,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
Edo: 105kg of cannabis was recovered from a house, and a suspect, Gloria Oris, was arrested.
Kwara: Two suspects, Abdulganiyu Karaman and Sunday Abel, were arrested with 83kg of cannabis and tramadol.
The NDLEA continues to intensify its efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks across Nigeria. The recent arrests and seizures highlight the agency’s commitment to curbing the drug menace in the country. The public is urged to assist with any information that could lead to the capture of the Owoalade couple and further dismantling of their cartel.
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Written By Doris Chinwe Omemgbeoji