Five members of two international drug trafficking cartels have been sentenced to a combined 21 years in prison for attempting to export large quantities of cocaine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The convicts, arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), were linked to the smuggling of 68.9 kilograms of cocaine and tramadol concealed in textile materials, charms, and motor spare parts.
This was contained in a statement by the NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, and shared on the agency’s Facebook page on Friday.
Confirming the convictions Babafemi said the outcome underscores the agency’s resolve to dismantle international criminal networks exploiting Nigeria’s airports for drug trafficking.
Three members of the first syndicate — Olasupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, and Sola Adegoke — were nabbed after NDLEA intercepted 17.9 kilograms of cocaine on August 26, 2025, at the export shed of the MMIA. The illicit drugs were hidden in textile materials and charms bound for Sydney, Australia.
Further investigations led to the recovery of 20.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud (a potent strain of cannabis) from Ogunbiyi’s residence in Lekki and a Range Rover SUV (RBC 459 EJ) from Adegoke’s home in Ikeja GRA.
They were arraigned on five counts before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/925C/2025. On October 30, the trio pleaded guilty, and on October 31, Justice Kakaki sentenced each to five years imprisonment, totaling 15 years.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the Range Rover SUV and a Toyota Venza seized during the investigation to the Federal Government.
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In a separate incident, two other kingpins — Obunike Joseph Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah — were convicted for attempting to export 2.6 kilograms of cocaine and 27.9 kilograms of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts en route to Gabon.
They were arrested on July 19, 2025, and charged on six counts before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos (charge number FHC/L/980C/2025).
Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to three years imprisonment each or an option of a ₦2 million fine. Additionally, ₦4 million, which Obunike offered as a bribe to NDLEA officers, was forfeited to the Federal Government.
“These convictions reaffirm the NDLEA’s commitment to ensuring that no drug trafficker goes unpunished, regardless of their network or sophistication,” the statement stated.
