Full Breakdown
Major Cocaine Seizures Lead to International Trafficking Charges in the UK and Nigeria
8/20/2026, 6:31:58 AM
Core Event: Dual Seizures and Arrests
On 5 August, police in the United Kingdom seized more than 180 kg (397 lb) of cocaine and arrested Oladipupo Atandare, 50, of Dagenham, and Latifat Yusuf, 44, of Hornchurch. The same day, Nigerian authorities reported finding 184.5 kg of cocaine—valued at roughly £20 million—in brown boxes at a courier facility in Lagos. Both arrests are being treated as part of an international drug-trafficking investigation that links the two shipments.
Key Figures & Groups
- Oladipupo Atandare — 50, resident of Dagenham, charged with international drug trafficking.
- Latifat Yusuf — 44, resident of Hornchurch, charged with international drug trafficking.
- Metropolitan Police — UK law-enforcement agency overseeing the investigation of the UK seizure.
- Nigerian authorities — Law-enforcement bodies that discovered the Lagos cocaine cache.
Timeline of Legal Proceedings
Official Statements & Responses
The Metropolitan Police said the arrests relate specifically to the UK seizure, while confirming that inquiries remain open regarding the parallel discovery in Nigeria. Nigerian officials described the Lagos find as a “significant” haul and indicated that additional arrests have been made, including a logistics-company employee and a social-media influencer with nearly 700,000 Instagram followers.
Impact and Ongoing Investigation
The coordinated seizures underscore cooperation between UK and Nigerian law-enforcement agencies in tackling large-scale cocaine trafficking. The Metropolitan Police emphasized that the investigation into the Nigerian cache is ongoing, suggesting that further arrests or prosecutions may follow as authorities trace the supply chain linking the two shipments.
