The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a prominent Lagos socialite and suspected drug kingpin, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, also known as “Iya Ruka” in the drug underworld. The arrest took place on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at her mansion in Okota, Lagos, following the interception of a truckload of illicit drugs linked to her.
The NDLEA disclosed that Ajoke has long been on their wanted list for her alleged leadership role in a major drug cartel operating out of the Mushin area of Lagos. Despite her social standing and reputation as a businesswoman importing fabrics and shoes from China, her involvement in drug trafficking had remained hidden for years.
Details of the Arrest
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed in a statement on Sunday that operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a white Isuzu truck on January 1, 2025. The truck, driven by her staff member, 41-year-old Abideen Adio, was carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis.
Following this discovery, NDLEA agents raided Ajoke’s residence at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, where she was arrested. Babafemi stated, âWhile Alhaja Ajoke portrays herself as a legitimate businesswoman and is recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an elite society club, her involvement in the drug trade exposes a different reality.â
Arrest of US-Trained Filmmaker
In another significant operation, NDLEA officers on Friday, December 27, 2024, arrested US-trained filmmaker and motivational speaker, Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, at a hotel in Lekki. His arrest followed the earlier apprehension of his associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, at a warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja.
According to the NDLEA, James was caught retrieving a shipment of 33 parcels of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis weighing 17.30 kilograms. The consignment, which arrived on December 24, 2024, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) via a Delta Airlines flight, was concealed in large wooden boxes. Babafemi noted that Mbadiwe had sent James to collect the shipment before their arrest.
These arrests mark significant victories for the NDLEA in its ongoing fight against drug trafficking networks in Nigeria.
For updates on this and other news, follow Chronicles Reporter on WhatsApp.