NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in palm kernel oil cans, nabs kingpin in Lagos

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine consignments concealed in tins of palm kernel extract heading to the United Kingdom at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, April 5, said the breakthrough began on March 11, 2026, when the anti-narcotic officers intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

Babafemi said the illicit substance was hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract intended for shipment to the UK.

Babafemi disclosed that two suspects handling the shipment, Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin, were promptly arrested.

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He added: “To unravel the sender and the arrowhead of the drug syndicate, a well-coordinated sting operation was carried out on Thursday 2nd April leading to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Ezemuwo Joel, who operates under a fake identity as Ajayi.

“His arrest provided the link to the syndicate’s head, 52-year-old King Arinze who was flushed out of a hideout in the Isolo area of Lagos.”

Babafemi noted that the suspect was thereafter taken to his warehouse in the Isolo area of Lagos, where NDLEA operatives recovered 886 tins of palm kernel extract prepared for drug concealment, industrial tools including a sealing machine, tin openers, paint sprays, 52 grams of cannabis sativa, and a pack of hand gloves.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that Arinze has since confessed to personally draining the oil from the tins to conceal the cocaine.