The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken decisive action against a notorious couple, Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade and Rashidat Ayinke Owoalade, who have been allegedly orchestrating a cocaine cartel from their base in India.
This move comes on the heels of the apprehension of four members of the syndicate in Lagos, where authorities also seized a Sports Utility Vehicle believed to be linked to their illicit activities. Additionally, two properties associated with the couple have been identified and sealed pending forfeiture to the Federal Government.
In an official statement released by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the gravity of the situation was underscored. The statement elucidated how Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, both implicated in the syndicate, were arrested on April 3, 2024. The duo was intercepted while attempting to export 3.40kg of cocaine via a Qatar Airlines flight destined for Oman, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Imran was identified as the courier responsible for transporting the illicit substance, while Ishola was purportedly a key figure in the cartel’s hierarchy. Further investigations revealed that the alleged mastermind behind the operation is Alhaji Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade, whose Indian residency permit bears the name Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun.
Efforts to dismantle the network intensified, leading to the arrest of Hamed Abimbola Saheed, a close associate of the suspected kingpin. Saheed’s apprehension yielded crucial evidence, including phenacetine, a substance used as a cutting agent for cocaine. Subsequent operations conducted at the residence of the Owoalade couple in Ogudu Orioke, Lagos, yielded significant results.
Another suspect was apprehended, and law enforcement officers seized a new model Toyota RAV4 SUV registered to Rashidat Ayinke Owoalade, along with additional quantities of cocaine and equipment used for drug concealment. The agency’s vigilance extended beyond Lagos, with intercepts and arrests made in various parts of the country.
Parcels containing illicit substances destined for international destinations such as China and the UK were seized, alongside attempts to export cannabis to Dubai and other locations. In separate incidents, NDLEA operatives apprehended individuals involved in the trafficking of opioids and cannabis across different states.
Notable arrests included those in Onitsha, Benue, Imo, Borno, and Kaduna, underscoring the agency’s nationwide crackdown on drug-related crimes. Furthermore, in Yobe State, NDLEA officers intercepted a significant quantity of drugs concealed within a petrol tanker en route to Maiduguri, Borno State. The driver, Ismaila Ali, was promptly arrested in connection with the illicit shipment.
Additionally, in Niger State, four suspects were apprehended following the seizure of improvised explosive device (IED) materials, further highlighting the agency’s multifaceted approach to combating organized crime.
In summary, NDLEA’s relentless efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and apprehend perpetrators demonstrate their unwavering commitment to safeguarding communities and upholding the rule of law.