Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have carried out the biggest cocaine bust in the history of Nigeria.
Cocaine worth Two hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Million ($278,250,000) US dollars or more than 198 billion naira, was seized in a cocaine warehouse at Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Four individuals and a Jamaican national were part of the drug kingpins arrested during the raid.
Their names are: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, from Ibadan, Oyo State; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, from Ekwulobia, Anambra State; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo State; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa Ondo State and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston Jamica.
The arrested culprits are part of a notorious drug syndicate which the NDLEA has been tracking since 2018.
According to spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, “The intelligence conducted operation started on Sunday, 18th of September and lasted two days across various parts of Lagos State”.
“The cocaine was busted at No 6 Olukola Crescent, Solobo Estate, Ikorodu Lagos, while the drug kingpins were arrested at various hotels they used as hideouts”.
The operation had the support and cooperation from the American Drug Enforcement Adminstration (US-DEA).
Chief Executive/Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended his officers for the successful operation.
He said the operation was a historical blow to drug cartels and issued a strong warning that all drug syndicates would go down because the game has changed.