National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Arrests Wanted Drug Kingpin and Filmmaker in Major Operations

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested a 61-year-old wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, popularly known as ‘Iya Ruka’. The arrest occurred on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at her mansion in Okota, Lagos, following the interception of a truckload of illicit drugs linked to her staff earlier that day. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that Elediye had evaded capture for years while operating a drug cartel based in Mushin, Lagos.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, a US-trained filmmaker and motivational speaker, on Friday, December 27, 2024, at his hotel in Lekki. This followed the arrest of his associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, who was caught retrieving 33 parcels of Loud, a potent cannabis strain weighing 17.3kg, from a warehouse in Ikeja. The drugs, concealed in wooden boxes, arrived from the United States via Delta Airlines on December 24, 2024.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their efforts, emphasizing the agency’s balanced approach to tackling drug supply and demand.

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Three Nigerian women, who were arrested and prosecuted for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia have been discharged and acquitted after spending 10 months in detention.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the development on Sunday, noting the importance of the diplomatic engagements that led to the women’s release.

The women—Hadiza Abba, Fatima Umate Malah, and Fatima Kannai Gamboi—were arrested on March 5, 2024, at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah. The women were held on suspicion of aiding and abetting the trafficking of narcotics.

The case, which garnered attention in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, was resolved following extensive diplomatic and legal efforts.