PICTORIAL: NDLEA arrests drug kingpin, filmmaker, others in New Year raids

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has begun the year with a series of high-profile arrests and drug seizures across Lagos, Kwara, Kano, and Rivers states.

This was revealed in a statement by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

According to the statement, on January 1, 2025, NDLEA operatives arrested 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, also known as “Iya Ruka,” at her mansion in Okota, Lagos.

She had been on the agency’s wanted list for leading a major drug cartel in Mushin.

Her arrest followed the interception of a truck carrying 1,540 kilograms of cannabis, driven by her staff, Abideen Adio. Alhaja Ajoke, who posed as a businesswoman importing fabrics and shoes, was also a socialite and leader of a Lagos women’s club.

The statement said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) began the new year with the arrest of a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, in her mansion at Okota, Lagos, following the interception of a truckload of illicit drugs by her staff on the same day.

“Known in the drug underworld as ‘Iya Ruka,’ Alhaja Ajoke, as she is fondly called in social circles, had her true identity shrouded in mystery for years while she remained on the NDLEA’s wanted list for leading one of the drug cartels operating from the Mushin area of Lagos.

“Her invincibility was blown open on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, when NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis, driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio. The operatives then stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, where they arrested her.

“On the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China, but beneath that lies a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognised as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.”

Also, on December 27, 2024, US-trained filmmaker and motivational speaker Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe was arrested in a Lagos hotel.

His associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, had been caught earlier with 33 parcels of “Loud” cannabis, weighing 17.30 kilograms, concealed in wooden boxes shipped from the United States.

The statement added, “In another major operation, NDLEA officers on Friday, 27th December 2024, arrested US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, who is also a motivational speaker, at his Lekki hotel room following the earlier arrest of his partner, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, at a warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja. James had been sent by Mbadiwe to collect a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 17.30 kilograms, which had arrived at the Import Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja on 24th December 2024, concealed in large wooden boxes.”

In Ilorin, 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. A search of their apartment uncovered 42 drugged cakes.

The statement added, “In Kwara State, fresh graduate Khadijat Abdulraheem, 24, and 20-year-old student Ayomide Morakinyo of the University of Ilorin were arrested on Sunday, 29th December 2024, by NDLEA operatives at Tanke-University of Ilorin Road, Oke Odo, Ilorin, following credible intelligence that they were producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students in the community. When their apartment was searched, 42 pieces of drugged cakes were recovered.”

An ex-convict, Sodade Sunday Eniola, previously jailed for drug trafficking, was rearrested for smuggling passports concealed in shoe soles and food. NDLEA officers seized 52 passports destined for Canada, Russia, and other countries.

The statement said, “Ex-convict Sodade Sunday Eniola, who was arrested by operatives of the Tincan Command of NDLEA in June 2024 for drug trafficking, prosecuted, and sentenced to four years in prison, was rearrested by officers of the MMIA Strategic Command of the Agency for passport racketeering. When he was convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos on 14th June 2024, the trial judge gave him an option of paying a N750,000 fine, which he paid and was released.

“In December 2024, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of Lagos airport intercepted 52 passports from shipments going to Canada, Russia, and other countries, concealed in shoe soles and food items. Further investigations led to the arrest of four members of three syndicates involved in the racket.

“The arrested suspects include Sodade Sunday Eniola, Ayinde Saheed Awwal, Salaudeen Afeez Ayode, and Sheriff Adebayo Bamigbade. The exhibits and suspects were handed over to the Zonal Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Lagos for further investigation and possible prosecution on Monday, 30th December 2024.”

Also, on December 31, 2024, NDLEA seized 316,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex during a joint operation with Customs.

The statement added, “A joint operation between NDLEA officers and Nigeria Customs Service led to the recovery of 316,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup from two containers at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, on Tuesday, 31st December 2024. The seizure followed credible intelligence processed by the Port Harcourt Port Command of the Agency.”

In Kano, NDLEA operatives recovered 149,090 pills of tramadol and other drugs from a dealer in the Dala Local Government Area.

The statement revealed, “In Kano, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, 31st December 2024, raided Mafarki, Dan Dishe area of Dala Local Government, where they recovered 149,090 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from a local dealer, 45-year-old Ismail Muhammad.”