The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a series of high-profile arrests in its ongoing war against illicit drugs.
The agency’s operatives arrested a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Elediye, known in the drug underworld as “Iya Ruka,” was arrested at her mansion in the Okota area of Lagos following the interception of a truckload of illicit drug consignment from her staff. The truck, driven by 41-year-old Abideen Adio, contained 44 jumbo sacks with 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi described Elediye as a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China, but beneath the surface, she was involved in a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.
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In another major operation, NDLEA officers arrested a US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker, Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, at his Lekki Hotel room on Friday, December 27, 2024. Mbadiwe’s arrest followed the seizure of 33 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 17.30 kilograms, which arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport from the United States.
Other notable arrests include:
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Two Ladies Caught with Drugged Cakes: Khadijat Abdulraheem, 24, and Ayomide Morakinyo, 20, were arrested in Kwara state for producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students.
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Ex-Convict Caught in Passport Racketeering: Sodade Sunday Eniola, who was previously arrested and sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking, was arrested again for passport racketeering.
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Codeine and Tramadol Seizures: NDLEA officers recovered 316,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup from two containers at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex and 149,090 pills of tramadol and exol-5 from a local dealer in Kano.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the agency for their operational successes, stating that their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts is well appreciated.