Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade (alias Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun) and Rashidat Ayinke Owoalade (alias Bolarinwa Rashidat Ayinke), suspected of leading a cocaine cartel from India, have been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after the apprehension of four syndicate members in Lagos.
Following the arrest, a Sports Utility Vehicle was seized, and two residences linked to the syndicate were earmarked for forfeiture to the Federal Government. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed in a statement that Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan were nabbed on April 3, 2024, attempting to export 3.40kg of cocaine via a Qatar Airlines flight bound for Oman through Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Imran acted as the courier, while Ishola was identified as the recruiter for the cartel led by Alhaji Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade, whose Indian residency permit bears the name Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun. Subsequent surveillance and operations led to the arrest of another syndicate member, Hamed Abimbola Saheed, who facilitated Imran’s lodging and transportation to the airport.
A search at Hamed’s residence yielded phenacetine, a cocaine cutting agent, and further investigation led to the Owoalade couple’s residence in Ogudu Orioke, Lagos. There, another suspect was apprehended, and additional cocaine, a new model Toyota RAV4 SUV belonging to Rashidat, and drug concealment materials were seized.
