- Safiu Kehinde
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has in a weeklong operation across the country intercept illicit drugs concealed processed cassava granules, popularly known as Garri; toy guitar, and jerry cans amongst others.
Involved in the concealment of illicit drugs in Garri was a convicted drug kingpin, Olashupo Oladimeji.
As contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Olashupo was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to export 1.10 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the staple food to London, United Kingdom, on a Virgin Atlantic flight.
Surprisingly, Olashupo is presently serving a five-year jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos, after NDLEA arrested him in 2025 in connection with a case of unlawful conspiracy to export 17.90kg cocaine,.
He was successfully prosecuted, convicted and sentenced in charge number FHC/L/925C/2025, by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Not ready to give up on his criminal enterprise, the convict who is the Chief Executive Officer of Dimeji Express Logistics, located at 20 Omilade Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, initiated the latest scheme from behind the prison wall to export the 1.10kg cocaine, using his company.
His lid was however uncovered on Thursday 12th February when NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport intercepted a consignment of compressed block of cocaine, hidden in a sack of Garri which was further packed inside a carton.
A staff of Dimeji Express Logistics, Adedeji Yusuf Gbolahan who presented the consignment for export was promptly arrested.
Investigations revealed that Olashupo initiated the trafficking scheme from prison and directed Yusuf to pick the consignment at a location in Oshodi.
Also on Thursday, NDLEA operatives in Abuja intercepted a waybill package sent from Enugu containing children’s toy guitar.
A search of the guitar revealed that it was used to conceal two parcels of Canadian Loud, a strain of Cannabis, weighing 59.2grams.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment Henry Onuma at Dream City Estate, Life Camp.
Another similar attempt by a 44-year-old estate surveyor Adelaja Taiwo Adetayo to export 1.70 kilograms of skunk concealed in five jerry cans to the UK, was equally frustrated by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
The cargo agent Mustapha Quddus Opeyemi who presented the consignment for export was initially arrested while a follow up operation led to the arrest of Adelaja at Ahmadiyya area of Lagos on Monday 9th February.
On Friday 13th of February, NDLEA operatives raided a 4-bedroom duplex at 2 Alexandria Terrace, Ikate-Elegushi, Lekki, used for the production and storage of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.
The raid followed the seizure of 73 cartons of nitrous oxide at Iyare Motor Park, Ajah–Epe expressway, a consignment intended for Benin City, Edo State.
The driver of the vehicle moving the shipment, Amos Innocent was arrested while Victor Oyedeji was nabbed at the Lekki home where 13.2 kilograms of freshly produced Colos were recovered in addition to precursor chemicals.
Prior to the Lagos raid, a notorious female drug dealer in Ibadan, Oyo state, Oluwayemisi Bunmi, 45, was on Wednesday 11th February arrested at her enclave in Hope Alakia area of the state capital.
Recovered from her include: 1.189kg Colos, skunk; 320grams of methamphetamine; monetary exhibit of N2.9 million and two cars: a Navy blue Toyota Matrix car marked JJJ 629 FQ and a Sky blue Toyota Matrix car with registration number LND 602 AQ.