NDLEA Nets High-Profile Drug Kingpin, Hollywood Filmmaker, Others In Nationwide Crackdown

LAGOS, NIGERIA –The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a series of major drug busts across Nigeria, resulting in the arrest of several high-profile individuals and the seizure of significant quantities of illicit substances.

The arrests, carried out between December 27th and January 1st, 2025, highlight the agency’s ongoing war against drug abuse.

The most significant arrest involved Alhaja Aishat Ajoke Elediye, 61, a Lagos socialite known as “Iya Ruka” in the drug underworld.

Elediye, whose true identity remained shrouded in mystery for years, was apprehended on New Year’s Day at her Okota mansion following the interception of a truck carrying 1,540 kilogrammes of cannabis driven by one of her employees, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

Other suspects

While outwardly presenting herself as a businesswoman importing fabrics and shoes, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi revealed Elediye’s involvement in a massive drug trafficking operation.

She is also the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, a prominent Lagos women’s club.

In a separate operation, Emeka Mbadiwe, a US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker and motivational speaker, was arrested in his Lekki hotel room.

This followed the earlier arrest of his partner, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu, at an Ikeja warehouse where he was collecting 17.3 kilograms of “Loud” cannabis, imported from the US.

The NDLEA also targeted lower-level operatives. In Kwara State, fresh graduate Khadijat Abdulraheem, 24, and a University of Ilorin student, Ayomide Morakinyo, 20, were arrested for producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes. 42 such cakes were recovered from their apartment.

In a unique case, ex-convict Sodade Eniola, previously sentenced to four years (Orana N750,000 fine, which he paid) for drug trafficking, was rearrested for passport racketeering.

This arrest stemmed from the discovery of 52 passports concealed in shipments bound for Canada, Russia, and other countries.

Three other suspects – Ayinde Awwal, Salaudeen Ayode, and Sheriff Bamigbade – were also arrested in connection with this operation and handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Meanwhile, a joint operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex yielded a massive seizure of 316,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup. In Kano, 149,090 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from Ismail Muhammad, 45.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s efforts, highlighting their balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.

The agency continues its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization programs in schools, places of worship, and communities.