The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has started the year with a series of significant drug arrests and seizures across Lagos, Kwara, Kano, and Rivers states. The agency revealed its efforts in a statement from its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

High-Profile Arrests in Lagos

On January 1, 2025, NDLEA operatives arrested 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, a known drug kingpin in Lagos. Elediye, also referred to as “Iya Ruka,” had been on the agency’s wanted list for leading a major drug cartel operating from Mushin. Her arrest followed the interception of a truck carrying 1,540 kilograms of cannabis, driven by her staff, Abideen Adio. The truck was seized while traveling toward Olodo town, and authorities subsequently arrested Elediye at her mansion in Okota, Lagos.

Alhaja Ajoke, who posed as a businesswoman importing fabrics and shoes, was also an influential socialite and the leader of a women’s club in Lagos. The NDLEA’s statement highlighted her deep involvement in the illicit drug trade under the guise of legitimate business activities.

Drug Seizures and Arrests in Lagos and Kwara

In a separate operation on December 27, 2024, US-trained filmmaker Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe was arrested in a Lagos hotel after his associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, was apprehended with 17.30 kilograms of “Loud” cannabis concealed in wooden boxes shipped from the United States. The cannabis shipment was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 24, 2024.

Meanwhile, in Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested 24-year-old Khadijat Abdulraheem and 20-year-old Ayomide Morakinyo on December 29, 2024, for producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students. Their apartment in Ilorin was searched, and 42 drugged cakes were recovered.

Ex-Convict Rearrested for Passport Racketeering

In December 2024, former drug trafficker Sodade Sunday Eniola, who had been previously jailed, was rearrested for smuggling passports. Eniola, along with three other suspects, was involved in concealing 52 passports in shoe soles and food items destined for countries like Canada and Russia. The passports were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport’s export shed.

Massive Drug Seizures in Rivers and Kano

On December 31, 2024, NDLEA seized 316,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup during a joint operation with Nigeria Customs Service at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Rivers State. This operation was part of an ongoing effort to combat the illegal distribution of prescription drugs.

In Kano, NDLEA operatives recovered 149,090 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from a local dealer in the Dala Local Government Area on the same day. The pills were seized from 45-year-old Ismail Muhammad during a raid on his premises.

Ongoing Efforts and Future Action

The NDLEA’s recent operations demonstrate its continued commitment to fighting the growing drug trade in Nigeria. The agency has pledged to continue working with other law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug syndicates and prosecute offenders. As the year progresses, the NDLEA has warned that it will continue to pursue further arrests and drug seizures, with plans to enhance its efforts in the coming months.