NDLEA intercepts London-bound cocaine sent from Lagos prison, seizes drug hidden in children’s toy guitar

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted an attempt by a convicted drug kingpin, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, to export 1.10 kilograms of cocaine concealed in processed cassava granules, popularly known as Garri, to London, the United Kingdom.

The cocaine consignment was intercepted on a Virgin Atlantic flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this via a statement issued on Sunday, February 15, 2026, said Olashupo is currently serving a five-year jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos State.

Babafemi said Olashupo was apprehended by NDLEA operatives in 2025 in connection with a case of unlawful conspiracy to export 17.90kg of cocaine, and was prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Babafemi noted that the convict, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Dimeji Express Logistics in the Oshodi area of Lagos State, initiated the latest scheme from prison to export the 1.10kg cocaine, using his company.

The NDLEA spokesman said: “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 Michael Oladimeji, initiated the trafficking scheme from prison and directed Yusuf to pick the consignment at a location in Oshodi.”

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Babafemi added that a 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.

He said 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 in the Ahmadiyya area of Lagos on February 9, 2026.

The NDLEA spokesperson further disclosed that the anti-narcotic officers intercepted a waybill package sent from Enugu containing children’s toy guitar in Abuja on Thursday, February 12.

Babafemi said a search of the guitar revealed that it was used to conceal two parcels of Canadian Loud, a strain of Cannabis, weighing 59.2grams, adding that a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Henry Onuma, at Dream City Estate, Life Camp in Abuja.

The Star