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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded another major breakthrough with the arrest of Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, a suspected operative of an international cocaine trafficking ring, almost two years after the cartel was dismantled in Lagos and Ogun states.
In a statement released by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA disclosed that the 39-year-old suspect, identified as a key stash keeper within the trans-border drug network, was apprehended on December 9, 2025, at her residence on Onasanya Street, Surulere, Lagos, after weeks of intelligence-driven surveillance.
Babafemi noted that the agency remained committed to tracking down all individuals linked to the syndicate following earlier arrests. “Determined to rein in every member of the syndicate, NDLEA operatives continued with follow-up intelligence and surveillance on the trans-border drug trafficking organisation until a 39-year-old female stash keeper, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, was identified as a key member,” the statement said.
A search conducted at the suspect’s home led to the discovery of a significant quantity of cocaine reportedly hidden in a suitcase kept in one of the children’s rooms. NDLEA confirmed that “a thorough search of her home led to the discovery of blocks of cocaine weighing 23.50 kilograms concealed in a black suitcase recovered from her children’s room.”
The agency further revealed that the suspect “admitted ownership of the drug consignment worth over N5 billion in street value.”
In a separate operation at the Terminal II departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, NDLEA operatives arrested a 36-year-old businessman, Nwanwene Robinson Destiny, on December 18, while he was preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight bound for Milan, Italy. A search of his luggage allegedly uncovered 1,020 pills of tramadol 225mg and tapentadol 200mg.
According to investigators, the suspect disclosed that “the successful trafficking of the opioids to Italy would have fetched him two hundred euros (€200) from the person he was to deliver them to.”
Elsewhere, at the Seme border area in Badagry, Lagos State, NDLEA officers arrested a 48-year-old Beninoise national, Leocardi Josu, on December 18, in possession of 3,400 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
Along the Okene–Lokoja highway in Kogi State, operatives also apprehended a 30-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Adamu, on December 19, with 28.4 kilogrammes of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway on December 19, recovering 125,000 capsules of tramadol and 1,800 ampoules of pentazocine injection. Two additional suspects, Ogunlade Kazeem and Adeleke Ismail, were earlier arrested at Challenge Motor Park, Ibadan, on December 17, with 185.4 kilogrammes of skunk.
Commenting on the nationwide operations, NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, applauded the officers for their dedication and urged them to sustain the momentum. He called on personnel to “remain extra vigilant during the festive season and ensure that the highest standard of professionalism is maintained in all their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities all through the period and beyond.”
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