Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected leader of a major cocaine trafficking ring and seized 23.50 kilograms of the Class A drug hidden in her home, the agency said in a statement. The drugs, concealed in a suitcase in her children’s room, were valued at more than ₦5 billion on the street.
The suspect, 39-year-old Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, had been on the run since May 2024 after two other alleged leaders of the syndicate were detained. NDLEA operatives tracked her to her residence on Onasanya Street in Surulere, Lagos, on 9 December and found the large quantity of cocaine during a thorough search. She later admitted that the haul belonged to her, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said.
Mr Babafemi said the arrest followed an earlier operation in May 2024 in which operatives of NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit detained a couple identified as Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda along the Lagos-Badagry expressway. At the time of their arrest, they were allegedly attempting to transport a large shipment of cocaine into Ghana. A search of their vehicle uncovered 42 blocks of cocaine weighing 47.5kg, while a subsequent raid on their home in Agbara, Ogun state, yielded another 10kg. That brought the total to 57.5kg associated with that cell.
“Determined to rein in every member of the syndicate, the NDLEA operatives continued with follow-up intelligence and surveillance on the trans-border trafficking organisation until Simbiat was identified as a key member,” Mr Babafemi said.
Officials say the latest seizure is part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria. In separate operations last week, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos intercepted a 36-year-old businessman trying to board a flight to Milan, Italy, with 1,020 pills of tramadol and tapentadol concealed in his luggage. The man claimed he stood to earn €200 from delivering the drugs abroad, the agency said.
Other arrests included a 48-year-old Beninese national caught at the Seme border with 3,400 tramadol tablets, and several suspects found in possession of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis) and synthetic cannabis along major highways.
The NDLEA’s efforts highlight growing concern about the social and economic harm posed by drug trafficking in Nigeria. Illegal drug markets not only fuel addiction and crime, but also carry wider economic costs. Experts say Nigeria loses significant revenue and productivity because of the illicit trade, as money that could contribute to taxable economic activity remains outside formal channels and fuels organised crime instead. Drug trafficking also damages the country’s reputation internationally and can deter legitimate investment.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), West Africa remains a significant transit point for cocaine originating in South America and bound for Europe, with Nigeria playing a central role thanks to its extensive borders and busy ports. Large shipments intercepted off the West African coast in recent months were valued in the hundreds of billions of naira, underscoring the scale of the problem.
Economists and security analysts warn that the illicit drug trade imposes hidden costs on the economy. Drug abuse can reduce worker productivity, increase healthcare and law enforcement spending, and erode human capital, all of which weigh on economic performance. While immediate impacts vary, long-term substance abuse and trafficking can undermine growth and discourage both domestic and foreign investment.
NDLEA officials say they will continue to pursue syndicates across Nigeria, using intelligence and coordinated operations to track down traffickers and disrupt their networks. Mr Babafemi said the agency remains vigilant and committed to reducing the availability of hard drugs in communities and overseas markets.
Simbiat’s arrest marks another milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing “War Against Drug Abuse”, an initiative aimed not only at seizing drugs but also at educating the public about the dangers of substance misuse. The NDLEA frequently engages in awareness campaigns in schools, workplaces and communities to discourage drug use among young people.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to pursue legal action against those arrested and intensify cross-border cooperation to stem the flow of illicit drugs through the region.
