In a dramatic breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested one of the primary masterminds of a trans-border cocaine syndicate in Lagos, uncovering a massive 23.5 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside her children’s room. The arrest marks a significant blow to organised narcotics networks operating within the country and highlights the sustained efforts of Nigeria’s anti-drug enforcement authorities.
Arrest of a Long-Sought Female Kingpin
The suspect, identified as Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, had been on the run for nearly 20 months following the dismantling of a major cocaine trafficking cartel earlier in May 2024. That operation saw the arrest of two principal figures — Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda — who were caught attempting to smuggle a large consignment of cocaine into Ghana.
After extensive intelligence gathering and surveillance, NDLEA officers finally traced Simbiat to her Surulere residence in Lagos and apprehended her on December 9, 2025. A search of her home led to a startling discovery: cocaine blocks weighing 23.50 kg hidden in a black suitcase in her children’s bedroom — a stash valued at over ₦5 billion in street value. Simbiat reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs during questioning.
History of the Syndicate and Previous Operations
The crackdown on this trafficking network began with the May 2024 arrest of Lookman and Toheebat Dauda along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where operatives intercepted 47.5 kg of cocaine in their possession. A follow-up raid on their home in Ogun State yielded an additional 10 kg, bringing that earlier seizure total to 57.5 kg of cocaine.
Simbiat, identified as a key stash keeper and member of the trans-border drug organisation, fled into hiding following her associates’ arrests — until the NDLEA’s relentless surveillance finally led to her capture.
NDLEA’s Broader Enforcement Actions
Simbiat’s arrest came amid a broader wave of anti-narcotics operations across Nigeria. In a separate mission at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, NDLEA officers intercepted a 36-year-old businessman attempting to board an international flight with 1,020 tramadol and tapentadol pills concealed in his luggage.
At the Seme border in Badagry, another suspect, a 48-year-old woman of Beninese nationality, was arrested with 3,400 tramadol tablets, further demonstrating the agency’s vigilance at critical points of entry.
Nationwide, NDLEA enforcement teams have also been active in intercepting other illegal drugs, including large quantities of skunk cannabis and synthetic variants, as well as tramadol capsules and pentazocine ampoules on major highways such as the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and Okene–Lokoja Highway.
Impact on Nigeria’s Drug Enforcement Landscape
The seizure of over 23 kg of cocaine hidden in a domestic living space underscores the evolving tactics of drug trafficking organisations and the need for vigilant, intelligence-driven enforcement. By penetrating deep into syndicate operations and tracking members who attempt to evade arrest, NDLEA continues to disrupt the supply chains that fuel narcotics trade in Nigeria and beyond.
The arrest also sends a firm message that no concealment strategy — even in spaces as unsuspecting as a children’s room — will evade detection. This serves both as a deterrent to would-be traffickers and a demonstration of the agency’s operational reach.
