The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday 27th December, 2024 arrested a US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker, Emeka Mbadiwe at his Lekki Hotel room.
Mbadiwe was arrested following the arrest of his partner, Uzoekwe James, earlier same day at a warehouse in Ajao estate Ikeja, where he was sent to collect a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 17.30 kilograms.
Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement issued Sunday said the shipment arrived the Import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja on 24th December 2024 from the United States on a Delta Airline flight, concealed in large wooden boxes.
Also, the agency has arrested a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Elediye.
Elediye was arrested on Wednesday 1st January, 2025 in her mansion at Okota area of Lagos following the interception of a truckload of illicit drug consignment from her staff the same day.
He noted that Elediye known in the drug underworld as “Iya Ruka”, as she is fondly called in social circle, has her true identity shrouded in mystery for years while she remained on the wanted list of NDLEA for leading one of the drug cartels operating from Mushin area of Lagos. T
Babafemi noted that the lid was however blown off her invincibility 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 and driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.
He added: “Thereafter, the operatives 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 is a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognised as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.”
In Kwara state, a graduate, Khadijat Abdulraheem, 24, and a 20-year-old student of the University of Ilorin, Ayomide Morakinyo were on Sunday 29th December, 2024 arrested by NDLEA operatives at Tanke-University of Ilorin road, Oke Odo, Ilorin.
Babafemi stressed that their arrest was based on credible intelligence that they were producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students in the community.
He noted that when their apartment was searched, 42 pieces of drugged cakes were recovered from them.