The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a suspected key member of a cocaine trafficking syndicate previously dismantled in Lagos and Ogun states, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat.
The arrest comes about 20 months after operatives of the NDLEA smashed a cocaine cartel led by a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, with multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine seized.
Lookman Dauda and Toheebat Dauda were arrested on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Ibiye along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway while attempting to cross the land border to deliver cocaine to Ghana.
At the point of arrest, 42 blocks of cocaine weighing 47.5 kilograms were recovered from them.
A follow-up operation at their residence at Plot 24/25, OPIC Extension, Petedo Road, Agbara, Ogun State, led to the recovery of eight additional blocks of cocaine weighing 10 kilograms, bringing the total seizure from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.
A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said following continued intelligence gathering and surveillance, NDLEA operatives identified 39-year-old Simbiat as a key member and stash keeper of the trans-border drug trafficking organisation.
Babafemi said Simbiat was tracked to her residence on December 9, 2025, and drugs were found hidden in her children’s room worth N5bn.
The statement partly read, “A swift follow-up operation in their residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun state, led to the recovery of an additional eight blocks of the same drug weighing 10kg, bringing the total weight of the consignment seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.
“Determined to rein in every member of the syndicate, the NDLEA operatives continued with follow-up intelligence and surveillance on the trans-border drug trafficking organisation until a 39-year-old female stash keeper, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, was identified as a key member of the DTO. As a result, she was trailed to her 31 Onasanya street, Surulere, Lagos residence on Tuesday, 9th December 2025.
“A thorough search of her home led to the discovery of blocks of cocaine weighing 23.50 kilograms concealed in a black suitcase recovered from her children’s room. She admitted ownership of the drug consignment worth over N5billion in street value.”
