NDLEA declares India-based Nigerian couple wanted for operating drug cartel

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared a Nigerian couple – Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade and Rashidat Ayinke, his wife, wanted for alleged ownership of a drug cartel.

According to Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, the duo’s activity was revealed after the arrest of one Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, and two members of the syndicate were apprehended in Lagos while trying to export 3.40 kilogrammes of cocaine to Oman through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on April 3.

Babafemi noted that the arrest of one Hamed Abimbola Saheed, a member of the cartel was made possible last Tuesday after five weeks of surveillance on the Abule Egba axis of Lagos.

According to the NDLEA boss, Saheed operates directly with the baron. He was also the one who accommodated 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.

He said, “During a search of Hamed house, NDLEA operatives recovered some phenacetine, 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, where another suspect was arrested and a new model Toyota RAV4 SUV marked FKJ-773 JJ belonging to Rashidat and additional 400 grams of cocaine recovered in addition to already prepared suitcases to be used for illicit drug concealment, digital weighing scales, and other paraphernalia.”

Meanwhile, the agency has also intercepted two parcels containing cocaine and amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter on May 17 in the state.

Babafemi stated that the cocaine intercepted was exported to China.

According to him, one Emeka Nwadiaro, known as Mega, has been also arrested over an alleged attempt to export 3.6 kilogrammes of the strain of cannabis called Loud to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

The NDLEA mentioned that the substance was wrapped in 36 water flasks and was discovered at a logistics company in Port Harcourt, Rivers, on May 16 while thr bus intercepted a Mercedes Benz bus loaded apprehended 840 kilogrammes of cannabis at Olojo in Ojo LGA, Lagos.

He said, “Another suspect, Lawal Adam, was nabbed along Otukpo road, Aliade, Benue state on Friday, May 17, with 75,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol and excel-5,” he said.

“Two suspects, Olisa Etisi, 32, and Jonathan Umeh, 25, were arrested along Owerri – Onitsha road, Imo state, following the discovery by NDLEA operatives of a big gas cylinder used to conceal six blocks of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 3.85kg.”