NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi announced in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, that the agency has declared a couple wanted following the arrest of four syndicate members in Lagos. Babafemi also reported the seizure of a Sports Utility Vehicle and the sealing of two houses traced to the couple, which are set for forfeiture to the Federal Government.
He reported that two syndicate members, Taofeek Imran and Ishola Isiaka, were arrested on April 3, 2024. This arrest occurred as they attempted to export 3.40 kg of cocaine on a Qatar Airlines flight bound for Oman via Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja-Lagos.
“While Imran was the courier conveying the drug consignment to Oman, Ishola recruited him as the head of the cartel.
“Investigation has now revealed Alhaji Kazeem Owoalade whose Indian residence permit bears Abdul Balogun based in India,“ he said.
Babafemi disclosed that the concerted efforts to dismantle the network in Nigeria yielded results after five weeks of surveillance and follow-up operations. He revealed that another key member of the syndicate, Hamed Saheed, who operated directly under the baron, was apprehended on Tuesday in the Abule Egba area of Lagos.
“It was indeed Saheed who lodged Imran in a hotel a day before his aborted trip to Oman and equally dropped him and Ishola at the Lagos airport the day they were arrested.
“During a search of Saheed’s house, NDLEA operatives recovered some phenacetin, a cutting agent for Cocaine, weighing 900 grams.
“He confessed that the recovered substance was what was left of the consignment Imran was taking to Oman the day he was arrested.
“His arrest led to a follow-up operation at the home of the Owoalade couple at 20 Eyiaro Street, Ogudu Orioke, Lagos.
“This was where another suspect was arrested and a new model Toyota RAV4 SUV marked FKJ-773 JJ belonging to Rashidat and an additional 400 grams of Cocaine were recovered.
“This is also in addition to already prepared suitcases to be used for illicit drug concealment, digital weighing scales and other paraphernalia,“ he said.
