LAGOS — Five members of international drug trafficking syndicates have been sentenced to a combined 21 years in prison following their arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempting to smuggle cocaine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the convicts were involved in separate cases involving the trafficking of 68.9 kilograms of cocaine and tramadol.
Olasupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, and Sola Adegoke — identified as leaders of one of the cartels — were arrested after NDLEA officers intercepted 17.9 kilograms of cocaine hidden in textile materials and local charms bound for Sydney, Australia, at the airport’s export shed on August 26, 2025.
Investigations also led to the recovery of 20.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from Ogunbiyi’s home in Lekki, as well as a black Range Rover SUV found in Adegoke’s residence in Ikeja GRA.
The trio were charged with five counts before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos. On October 30, 2025, they pleaded guilty to all charges. Justice Kakaki sentenced each of them to five years in prison without the option of a fine, totaling 15 years for the group. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the Range Rover and a Toyota Venza car to the Federal Government.
In a related case, two other traffickers — Obunike Joseph Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah — were arrested in connection with the seizure of 2.6 kilograms of cocaine and 27.9 kilograms of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts bound for Gabon on July 19, 2025.
They were arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos on six counts. On November 4, 2025, both men pleaded guilty. The court sentenced each to three years imprisonment or a fine of two million naira. The four million naira offered by Obunike as a bribe to NDLEA officers was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Babafemi said the convictions reflect NDLEA’s sustained efforts to dismantle international drug cartels and ensure that offenders face justice.
