The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on New Year’s Day at her mansion in Okota, Lagos. Her arrest followed the interception of a truckload of alleged illicit drugs transported by one of her staff members on the same day.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, revealed that Alhaja Ajoke, known in social circles as "Iya Ruka," had been on the agency's wanted list for years due to her suspected leadership of a drug cartel operating out of Mushin, Lagos. Acting on intelligence, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis. The truck was driven by her employee, 41-year-old Abideen Adio. This led to a raid on her residence, located at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, Okota, where she was arrested.
Although Alhaja Ajoke outwardly appeared to be a legitimate businesswoman importing fabrics and shoes from China, investigations revealed her deep involvement in the illicit drug trade. She is also known as the "Iyalaje" of Blessing Sisters, an influential Lagos-based social club.
In another high-profile operation, NDLEA officers arrested US-trained filmmaker and motivational speaker Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe in a hotel room in Lekki. His arrest followed the earlier detention of his associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, who was caught at a warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja, with a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud (a potent cannabis strain) weighing 17.3 kilograms. The shipment had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 24, 2024, from the United States, concealed in large wooden boxes.
Meanwhile, in Ilorin, Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested 24-year-old graduate Khadijat Abdulraheem and a 20-year-old university student, Ayomide Morakinyo, for producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students. During a raid on their residence, 42 drug-infused cupcakes were seized.
Additionally, ex-convict Sodade Sunday Eniola, previously arrested for drug trafficking in June 2024, has been apprehended again for passport racketeering. NDLEA officers discovered 52 passports concealed in shoe soles and food items during inspections at the Lagos airport’s export shed. Further investigations led to the arrest of three others linked to the racket.
In another operation, NDLEA officers in Port Harcourt seized 316,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup from two containers during a joint inspection with customs and other security agencies. In Kano, operatives recovered 149,090 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 during a raid on a local dealer in Dala Local Government Area.
The NDLEA continues to intensify its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, with sensitization programs held in markets, mosques, schools, and workplaces nationwide. Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency's officers for their dedication to combating drug supply and demand, highlighting their significant contributions to national security.
