Female Drug Kingpin Arrested in Lagos as NDLEA Uncovers 23.5kg Cocaine, Intercepts Italy-Bound Opioids
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a female drug kingpin in Lagos and recovered 23.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in her children’s room, as the agency intensified nationwide operations that also led to the interception of opioids bound for Italy and multiple high-profile arrests across the country.
The suspect, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, was apprehended at her residence on Onasanya Street, Surulere, Lagos, following months of intelligence-led surveillance. Her arrest comes 20 months after NDLEA dismantled a major cocaine trafficking syndicate led by a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, in Lagos and Ogun states.
The Dauda-led cartel was busted on Saturday, May 25, 2024, when NDLEA operatives arrested the couple along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway while attempting to cross the land border en route to Ghana. A total of 47.5kg of cocaine was recovered from them at the point of arrest, while a follow-up search of their residence in Agbara, Ogun State, yielded an additional 10kg, bringing the total seizure to 57.5kg.
Determined to dismantle the entire network, NDLEA operatives sustained intelligence operations, which eventually identified Shodunke, 39, as a key stash keeper in the trans-border drug trafficking organisation. A search of her home on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, led to the recovery of 23.5kg of cocaine concealed in a black suitcase inside her children’s room. She reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs, valued at over ₦5 billion in street value.
Meanwhile, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, NDLEA officers at Terminal II intercepted a 36-year-old businessman, Nwanwene Robinson Destiny, on Thursday, December 18, while he was attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy. He was found with 1,020 pills of tramadol (225mg) and tapentadol (200mg) concealed in his luggage. The suspect claimed he would have earned €200 for successfully delivering the drugs in Italy.
At the Seme border, NDLEA operatives arrested a 48-year-old Beninoise, Leocardi Josu, with 3,400 tablets of tramadol (225mg) while attempting to enter Nigeria on the same day.
In Kogi State, a suspect, Abdullahi Adamu, 30, was arrested along the Okene–Lokoja highway with 28.4kg of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain, on Friday, December 19.
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, recovering 125,000 capsules of tramadol and 1,800 ampoules of pentazocine injection. Two suspects, Ogunlade Kazeem, 54, and Adeleke Ismail, 30, were also arrested at Challenge Motor Park, Ibadan, with 185.4kg of skunk.
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives raided the Owena/Ijesha forest, seizing 405kg of skunk and arresting a suspect, Charles James, 45. Similarly, along the Abuja–Kaduna highway, another suspect, Jamilu Zakari, 42, was arrested with 14,960 pills of tramadol (225mg) concealed in kolanut sacks en route to Gusau, Zamfara State.
Beyond enforcement, the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign nationwide, delivering enlightenment lectures in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, including programmes in Anambra, Katsina, and Ekiti states.
Commending officers of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Seme, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo, and Osun Commands for their professionalism and operational success, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged personnel nationwide to remain vigilant during the festive season and to uphold the highest standards in drug supply and demand reduction efforts.
— Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday, December 21, 2025
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