NDLEA Arrests Alleged Drug Syndicate Leader in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested an alleged drug syndicate leader, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, at her residence in Lagos after discovering a large quantity of illicit drugs hidden inside her home.

According to the NDLEA, 23.50 kilograms of a Class A substance were recovered from a room reportedly used by her children.

The NDLEA drug bust Lagos was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The agency noted that the arrest comes nearly 20 months after it dismantled a major cocaine trafficking network allegedly operated by a married couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, across Lagos and Ogun states.

Babafemi recalled that on Saturday, May 25, 2024, NDLEA operatives intercepted Lookman Dauda and his wife while they were allegedly attempting to transport a drug consignment across the land border to Ghana.

The couple was arrested by a special operations team at Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

At the point of arrest, officers reportedly recovered:

• 42 blocks of cocaine

• A total weight of 47.5 kilograms

Following the arrest, NDLEA agents carried out a follow-up operation at the couple’s residence located at Plot 24/25, OPIC Extension, Petedo Road, Agbara, Ogun State.

That search led to the recovery of:

• Eight additional blocks of cocaine

• Weighing approximately 10 kilograms

According to the agency, the total quantity of drugs recovered from the couple amounted to 57.5 kilograms.

The NDLEA drug bust Lagos underscores the agency’s continued focus on dismantling drug networks operating within residential communities and along border routes.

Investigations into the latest arrest involving Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat are ongoing, and the agency has not ruled out further arrests linked to the alleged syndicate.