Female Drug Kingpin Arrested in Lagos
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 39-year-old female drug kingpin, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, in Lagos, uncovering 23.50 kilograms of cocaine concealed in her children’s room, as the agency intensified nationwide operations that also led to major opioid interceptions and multiple arrests across the country.
Simbiat, identified as a key member of a trans-border drug trafficking organisation, was arrested at her residence on 31 Onasanya Street, Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, following months of intelligence-led surveillance.
The arrest comes 20 months after NDLEA operatives dismantled a cocaine syndicate led by Bolanle Lookman Dauda and his wife, Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, who were arrested on May 25, 2024, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway while attempting to smuggle cocaine across the border to Ghana.
At the time of their arrest, 47.5kg of cocaine was recovered from the couple. A subsequent raid on their residence in Agbara, Ogun State, yielded an additional 10kg, bringing the total seizure to 57.5kg.
Determined to bring all members of the syndicate to justice, NDLEA operatives sustained intelligence operations, leading to the identification and eventual arrest of Simbiat, described as a stash keeper for the cartel.
A search of her home resulted in the discovery of 23.50kg of cocaine hidden in a black suitcase inside her children’s room. The suspect reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs, estimated to be worth over ?5 billion in street value.
Meanwhile, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, December 18, intercepted an Italy-bound businessman, Nwanwene Robinson Destiny, with 1,020 pills of tramadol (225mg) and tapentadol (200mg) concealed in his luggage. He was attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan.
The suspect reportedly confessed that he would have earned €200 upon successful delivery of the opioids in Italy.
In another operation at the Seme Border, NDLEA officers arrested a 48-year-old Beninoise national, Leocardi Josu, with 3,400 tablets of tramadol (225mg) while attempting to enter Nigeria.
Similarly, a 30-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Adamu, was arrested along the Okene–Lokoja Highway with 28.4kg of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, recovering 125,000 capsules of tramadol and 1,800 ampoules of pentazocine injection, while two suspects—Ogunlade Kazeem (54) and Adeleke Ismail (30)—were arrested with 185.4kg of skunk at Challenge Motor Park, Ibadan.
In Osun State, NDLEA raided the Owena/Ijesha forest, seizing 405kg of skunk and arresting a suspect, Charles James (45). Another suspect, Jamilu Zakari (42), was arrested along the
Abuja–Kaduna Highway with 14,960 tramadol pills concealed in kolanut sacks en route to Gusau, Zamfara State.
Across the country, the agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns, reaching schools, worship centres, transport unions and communities in states including Anambra, Katsina and Ekiti.
Commending the operatives involved in the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged continued vigilance.
“I commend the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Seme, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo and Osun Commands for their dexterity and professionalism. They must remain extra vigilant during the festive season and ensure the highest standards in both drug supply and drug demand reduction efforts,” Marwa said.
He added that the agency would not relent in its resolve to dismantle drug networks and protect Nigerian communities from the scourge of illicit drugs.
