The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled significant cross-border drug trafficking networks during an extensive week-long operation across Lagos, Nasarawa, Kano, Gombe, and Edo states.
This operation resulted in the seizure of over 3.4 tonnes of various types of cannabis, including Colorado, Loud, and Skunk, along with more than 645,000 opioid pills.
The most notable arrest took place in Lagos on August 3, when NDLEA agents apprehended Prophet Adefolusho Olasele, the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, right after he finished his Sunday service at the Okun Ajah branch.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi revealed that the pastor had been evading capture for months, allegedly orchestrating multiple drug shipments from Ghana to Nigeria.
Olasele is connected to the seizure of 200kg of “Ghana Loud” Cannabis on June 4 at Okun Ajah beach, as well as a July 6 incident where 700kg of the drug was found in his delivery vehicle.
He had previously avoided arrest twice before fleeing to Ghana.
Other operations in Lagos included the August 7 arrest of Benjamin Ukoh in Ikoyi, who was found with 32 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 15.63kg.
In Nasarawa State, a significant haul of 3,093kg of Skunk was intercepted on August 9 from three suspects in New Karu.
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In Kano State, several suspects were arrested, including one with 359kg of Skunk, another with 9kg of Colorado, and a third possessing 20,000 Tramadol pills and Diazepam injections.
Gombe State experienced a major seizure in Tudun Wadan Pantami, where operatives confiscated over 550,000 opioid pills, followed by another Tramadol seizure the next day.
In Edo State, a bus traveling from Anambra State was stopped, carrying 23,940 Tramadol capsules, other opioids, and injection ampoules.
Praising the state commands, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, encouraged officers to uphold the agency’s “balanced approach” to drug control, which combines effective enforcement with ongoing public awareness efforts.
