Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a woman identified as Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, alleged to be a major figure in an international cocaine trafficking network operating across Nigeria’s land borders.
The arrest followed months of intelligence-led surveillance linked to a drug syndicate earlier dismantled in Lagos and Ogun states.
The cartel, led by a married couple, was busted in May 2024 with over 57 kilograms of cocaine recovered during operations along the Lagos–Badagry corridor and at a residence in Agbara, Ogun State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Simbiat was identified as a key stash keeper for the syndicate after sustained monitoring by operatives. She was eventually tracked to her residence in the Surulere area of Lagos on December 9, 2025.
A search of the apartment reportedly led to the discovery of 23.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a suitcase kept inside a room used by her children. The seized drugs were estimated to have a street value exceeding ₦5 billion. Investigators said the suspect admitted ownership of the consignment.
In separate operations across the country, NDLEA officers also intercepted multiple drug shipments. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a businessman attempting to travel to Italy was arrested with over 1,000 pills of tramadol and tapentadol hidden in his luggage. The suspect allegedly confessed he was promised €200 for the delivery.
Along the Seme border, a Beninese national was apprehended while trying to enter Nigeria with thousands of tramadol tablets. Additional arrests were recorded in Kogi, Oyo, Osun, and Kaduna states, where large quantities of cannabis, opioids, and other illicit substances were seized during highway interceptions and forest raids.
Commending the officers involved, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel nationwide to remain alert during the festive period and intensify efforts to curb both drug trafficking and abuse.