Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled an International Organised Criminal Group (IOCG) operating between Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The two-week intelligence-led operations across parts of Lagos led to the arrest of three cartel leaders after the interception of a large consignment of cocaine concealed in textile materials and local charms bound for Sydney, Australia, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the unravelling of the drug syndicate began on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, when NDLEA officers at the airport’s export shed intercepted 76 cartons of textile materials destined for Sydney.

According to him, a thorough search of the shipment uncovered 16 large blocks of cocaine weighing 17.9 kilogrammes, hidden within lace fabrics and accompanied by local charms intended to provide “spiritual cover” against law enforcement detection.

A freight agent and member of the syndicate, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, was the first to be arrested. The consignment was estimated to have a street value of over 5.3 million Australian dollars, equivalent to N5.3 billion.

A fast-paced investigation subsequently exposed other leaders of the group: Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi and Shola Adegoke. Ogunbiyi, identified as the syndicate’s arrowhead in Nigeria, was arrested at a hotel in Ikeja GRA on Wednesday, September 3. He was later taken to his residence in the Lekki area of Lagos, where officers recovered 21 parcels of Canadian Loud (a strain of cannabis) weighing 10.90kg, along with a double-barrelled pump-action gun and cartridges.

A house located at 13 Reverend Ogunbiyi Street, Ikeja GRA, used by the group to package illicit drugs for export, was also raided. Another leader of the syndicate, Shola Adegoke, was arrested there.

The black Range Rover SUV marked RBC 459 EJ found in the compound was searched, leading to the recovery of 17 parcels of Loud weighing 9.60kg. A black Toyota Venza with registration number FST 771 JQ had earlier been recovered from Ogunbiyi at the point of his arrest.

Investigations revealed that while Ogunbiyi coordinated the group’s Nigerian operations, one Adebisi Ademola Omoyele (alias Mr Bee), currently based in Dubai, UAE, is the identified ringleader overseeing their overseas activities. Adegoke was discovered to have served a jail term in the UK in 2021 for dealing in methamphetamine before being deported to Nigeria in 2024. Ogunbiyi was also found to have served a 14-year prison sentence in the UK for a murder case before returning to Nigeria about eight years ago.

Meanwhile, on Friday, September 5, NDLEA operatives at Terminal 1 of the Lagos airport arrested a Milan, Italy-based Nigerian, Gabriel Michael, while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy. He was found to have concealed 24,480 pills of tramadol in 100mg, 200mg, and 225mg dosages, which he claimed he intended to sell for 19,520 euros.

Additionally, on Thursday, September 4, a total of 160,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup were discovered in a 40ft container during a joint examination conducted by NDLEA officers, Nigeria Customs, and other security agencies at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State.