Twenty months after the initial dismantling of a major cocaine trafficking cartel, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended another key leader of the syndicate, Shodunke Simbiat (also referred to as Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat). She had reportedly gone underground since May 2024 but was eventually arrested at her Lagos home on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, where an additional 23.5 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from her children’s room. The seized drug consignment alone is estimated to be worth over N5 billion in street value, and Simbiat has admitted ownership.

The cartel, initially led by a couple, Toheebat Dauda and Lookman Dauda (also identified as Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda), was first disrupted on Saturday, May 25, 2024. NDLEA's special operations unit arrested the couple at Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, as they attempted to cross the land border into Ghana to deliver a consignment. At the time of their arrest, 42 blocks of cocaine, weighing 47.5 kilograms, were found in their possession. A subsequent follow-up operation at their residence on Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun State, led to the recovery of an additional eight blocks of cocaine, weighing 10 kilograms. This brought the total weight of the illicit drug seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.

The NDLEA remained vigilant, continuing with intelligence gathering and surveillance on the trans-border drug trafficking organization, which ultimately led to the identification and capture of Shodunke Simbiat, a 39-year-old female stash keeper. Her arrest marks a significant step in reining in every member of the syndicate.

In related clampdowns across the country, NDLEA operatives have made several other notable seizures and arrests. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, a 36-year-old businessman, Nwanwene Destiny, was intercepted with 1,020 pills of tramadol 225mg and tapentadol 200mg concealed in his luggage. He was attempting to board a flight to Milan, Italy, and claimed he expected €200 for successful delivery.

At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, 48-year-old Beninoise national Leocardi Josu was arrested with 3,400 tablets of tramadol 225mg while trying to enter Nigeria. Along the Okene/Lokoja highway, Abdullahi Adamu, 30, was nabbed with 28.4 kilograms of skunk and Colorado, both strains of cannabis.

Further operations in Oyo State led to the recovery of 125,000 capsules of tramadol and 1,800 ampoules of pentazocine injection from a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Additionally, two suspects, Ogunlade Kazeem, 54, and Adeleke Ismail, 30, were arrested with 185.4 kilograms of skunk at Challenge motor park, Ibadan. In Osun State, a raid on Owena/Ijesha forest resulted in the seizure of 405 kilograms of skunk and the arrest of Charles James, 45. Meanwhile, Jamilu Zakari, 42, was apprehended at a tollgate along the Abuja-Kaduna highway with 14,960 pills of tramadol 225mg, hidden in two kolanut sacks originating from Abuja and destined for Gusau, Zamfara State.

The NDLEA's nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities continued actively, reaching schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Seme, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo, and Osun commands for their arrests, seizures, and dexterity. He urged all personnel across the country to remain extra vigilant during the festive season and uphold the highest standards of professionalism in their drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.