The battle against cocaine trafficking in Nigeria took a dramatic turn after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) uncovered an alleged export scheme coordinated from behind prison walls.
Authorities say the latest attempt involved 1.10 kilograms of cocaine carefully concealed in a sack of garri and prepared for shipment to London, United Kingdom.
According to officials, the suspect at the centre of the plot is Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, a convicted drug kingpin currently serving a five-year jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
Despite his incarceration, investigators allege he continued to direct operations linked to his logistics business in Lagos.
The operation was foiled at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
NDLEA officers conducting cargo screening reportedly flagged a package billed for export on a Virgin Atlantic flight bound for London.
Inside the consignment, officers discovered a compressed block of cocaine hidden within processed cassava granules, popularly known as garri.
The illicit substance had been placed inside a sack and further packed into a carton to avoid suspicion during routine inspection.
The discovery, officials say, once again highlights the evolving tactics of traffickers who attempt to disguise cocaine shipments in everyday food items.
Presenting the package for export was Adedeji Yusuf Gbolahan, identified as a staff member of Dimeji Express Logistics, a company allegedly owned by the convict. He was immediately arrested at the airport.
Preliminary findings suggest that the employee acted on instructions from his employer.
Investigators claim that the consignment was collected from a designated point in Oshodi before being transported to the Lagos airport for export processing.
Authorities are continuing to question the suspect to determine the full scope of the prison conspiracy and whether other accomplices were involved in the attempted cocaine trafficking scheme.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi explained that Oladimeji had previously been arrested in 2025 in connection with a separate attempt to export 17.90 kilograms of cocaine.
He was prosecuted and convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos and subsequently sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
While serving his sentence, investigators allege that he remained active in coordinating drug-related activities using his logistics firm as a front.
The latest plot, officials claim, demonstrates an attempt to sustain his criminal enterprise despite being behind bars.
The agency described the development as alarming but said it underscores the importance of sustained intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation.
NDLEA officials emphasized that enhanced surveillance systems and vigilant officers at Lagos airport played a key role in intercepting the concealed cocaine before it could leave Nigeria.
The agency reaffirmed its resolve to dismantle networks engaged in cocaine trafficking, regardless of where the masterminds may be located.
Authorities noted that traffickers are increasingly adopting deceptive packaging strategies to bypass security checks.
However, they maintained that the agency’s evolving detection methods continue to frustrate such schemes.
The NDLEA also signalled plans to strengthen collaboration with correctional institutions to prevent inmates from coordinating illegal activities from custody.
Officials stressed that any lapses that enable such operations will be thoroughly investigated.
Security analysts say the incident raises broader concerns about how incarcerated individuals maintain external communication capable of facilitating organized crime.
It also draws attention to the need for stricter monitoring of business operations linked to convicted offenders.
For aviation security authorities, the interception reinforces the importance of rigorous cargo screening at international transit points.
Lagos airport remains one of Nigeria’s busiest gateways, making it a critical frontline in the fight against cocaine trafficking.
The agency assured the public that all individuals found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to identify potential collaborators and trace the origin of the seized substance.
Ireport247news
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