Following a 20-month manhunt, operatives of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 39-year-old woman identified as a key “stash keeper” for a major trans-border drug trafficking organization.
The suspect, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, was arrested at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, on December 9th.
A search of her home led to the discovery of 23.50 kilograms of cocaine, worth over ₦5 billion, concealed in a suitcase in her children’s room. She has reportedly admitted ownership of the drug consignment.
The investigation into this syndicate began in May 2024 with the arrest of its leaders, Bolanle and Olayinka Dauda, who were caught attempting to cross into Ghana with 47.5 kilograms of cocaine.
A follow-up operation at their home in Ogun State yielded an additional 10kg of the drug, bringing the total seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.
The NDLEA continued its intelligence operations, which eventually led them to Simbiat, who had been in hiding since the initial arrests.
In separate operations, the NDLEA also reported several other recent arrests.
On December 18th, a 36-year-old man was intercepted at the Lagos airport trying to smuggle over 1,000 tramadol and tapentadol pills to Italy.
That same day, a Beninoise national was arrested at the Seme border with 3,400 tramadol tablets. On December 19th, another suspect was apprehended on the Okene/Lokoja highway with over 28 kilograms of cannabis.
