A Nigerian couple, Agbakoba John Mmadu and Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, who allegedly led a high-profile cocaine syndicate based in Lagos, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The couple was apprehended along with an associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, during a raid where significant quantities of cocaine intended for export and local distribution were seized.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, announced in a statement on Sunday that the arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by a special operations unit targeting the notorious drug syndicate.

The group is known for packaging, distributing, and trafficking cocaine within Nigeria and internationally.

Babafemi said, “The 54-year-old Agbakoba John Mmadu was arrested at Ago palace way, Okota while his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, who doubles as their stash keeper, were nabbed at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, all on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024.

“While seven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 7.652 kilograms were recovered from Mmadu at Ago palace way, not less than one hundred and twenty-two (122) compressed pellets of the same drug weighing 2.42kg were seized from the duo of Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate, bringing the total seizure to 10.1 kilograms valued at over N2.1 billion in street value.”