NDLEA Busts Lagos Drug Syndicate: Cocaine Hidden in Palm Kernel Extract Meant for UK Seized

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a major drug trafficking operation in Lagos, seizing cocaine cleverly concealed inside tins of palm kernel extract intended for export to the United Kingdom.

The breakthrough followed a three-week intelligence-driven investigation that culminated in a raid on a residential property converted into a warehouse in the Bucknor area of Isolo. The operation led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin, identified as King Arinze, along with key members of the trafficking network.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the case began on March 11, 2026, when officers attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Strategic Command intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine at the airport’s export shed in Ikeja. The illicit drug was carefully hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract, a widely traded Nigerian product, and was set for shipment to the UK.

Two suspects linked to the consignment, Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin, were arrested at the scene. Their interrogation provided critical leads that enabled operatives to trace the supply chain to its source.

Subsequently, NDLEA officers tracked the operation to a warehouse located at 11, Ola Ifa Street, Bucknor, Isolo, where the alleged mastermind was apprehended. During the raid, operatives recovered 886 tins of palm kernel extract prepared for drug concealment, alongside equipment used in the operation, including a sealing machine, tin openers, paint sprays, hand gloves, and 52 grammes of cannabis sativa.

Investigators revealed that the syndicate employed a sophisticated method of draining the original contents of the tins to create space for cocaine pellets before resealing them to appear factory-sealed and legitimate for export.

The NDLEA said the cartel had mastered the concealment technique, taking advantage of the everyday appearance of palm kernel extract to evade detection at export points. Authorities confirmed that the operation exposed multiple layers of the trafficking network.

Chairman of the agency, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers for the successful operation, describing it as a significant blow to international drug cartels attempting to use Nigeria as a transit hub for narcotics bound for Europe.

The suspects are currently in NDLEA custody and are expected to be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The agency reiterated its commitment to intensifying surveillance and dismantling drug trafficking networks employing increasingly sophisticated concealment methods.