2.1 Tons of Cocaine Seized : 4 Drug Lords Jailed for 28 Years

Cocaine Seizure in Lagos – NDLEA Operation 2022

 

In what feels like a scene straight out of a movie, four heavyweight drug lords just hit the end of the road after being slapped with a total of 28 years in prison. This isn’t your everyday drug bust—2.1 tons of cocaine were seized in Ikorodu, Lagos, making it the biggest cocaine haul Nigeria has ever recorded. To put that into perspective, that’s more coke than you’d find in a warehouse rave.

Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos wasn’t playing around. By the time he was done, these guys were looking at serious jail time, hard labour included. The crew? Soji Jubril Oke (71), Wasiu Akinade (55), Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu (67), and Kelvin Christopher Smith (44), a Jamaican national. While Kelvin got off with four years, Emmanuel bagged a whopping 16-year stretch. Soji’s looking at five, and Wasiu landed a three-year stay behind bars.

Here’s the kicker not all of them can pay their way out. Some fines were thrown around, but one of them’s serving his time the old-fashioned way, with zero option of paying his way to freedom.

This whole thing started in September 2022 when NDLEA operatives stormed a house on Olukuola Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu. The intel was rock solid, and the bust was swift. By the time the dust settled, 2,139.55 kg of cocaine sat on the table, marking a historic moment for Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts. It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.

Of course, the fallout didn’t stop at jail time. The court confiscated a Toyota Tacoma SUV (because why not?), $50,000 in cash, and over N67 million split between two of the convicts. If that wasn’t enough, properties in Victoria Garden City (VGC) were also taken. Let’s just say they won’t be sipping champagne in their luxury estates anytime soon.

Interestingly, while four of them are down for the count, there’s still one player left in the game. Oguntolure Sunday, the fifth suspect, is still having his day in court. Who knows how that’ll end?

This case isn’t just about the cocaine or the flashy cars it’s a signal that Nigeria’s war on drugs is stepping up. For anyone thinking the system’s asleep at the wheel, this bust proves otherwise.

Now, the streets are talking. Was this a lucky strike, or is this the beginning of something bigger? Either way, for these four, the party’s over.