NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor for Masterminding Cross-Border Drug Trafficking
…Agency Recovers Over 3.4 Tonnes of Cannabis, 645,906 Pills of Opioids in Nationwide Raids
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, for allegedly orchestrating multiple cross-border drug shipments into Nigeria.
Olasele, who had been on the run for months, was apprehended on Sunday, 3 August 2025, at his church on Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, Lagos. NDLEA operatives, who had trailed him since June, waited until the end of the Sunday worship service before moving in.
According to the NDLEA, the prophet had twice evaded arrest before fleeing to Ghana, where he allegedly coordinated the smuggling of “Ghana Loud” – a potent strain of cannabis – into Nigeria via waterways.
He was linked to two major seizures: 200 kilogrammes of the drug recovered at Okun Ajah Beach on 4 June, and 700 kilogrammes found in his delivery van on 6 July. In his statement to investigators, Olasele admitted ferrying the drugs from Ghana and confirmed he had been in hiding to avoid capture.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, 7 August, raided an apartment at Kishi House, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Udo Ukoh and seizing 15.63 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud cannabis.
Across other states, the agency made significant breakthroughs:
Nasarawa State: On Saturday, 9 August, 3,093 kilogrammes of “skunk” cannabis were recovered from Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25) in New Karu.
Kano State: On Friday, 8 August, Nura Yahaya (29) was arrested in Geza with 359 kilogrammes of skunk. Two days earlier, Umar Adamu Umar (27) was caught with 9 kilogrammes of Colorado cannabis on the Zaria-Kano road. That same Friday, Usman Musa (30) was intercepted at Gadar Tamburawa with 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam.
Gombe State: On Friday, 8 August, a raid at an uncompleted building in Tudun Wadan Pantami yielded 550,266 tramadol pills, and Usama Isah was arrested. On Saturday, 9 August, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was caught along Potiskum road, Bajoga, with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
Edo State: On Wednesday, 6 August, a white Toyota Hiace bus from Onitsha heading to Isanlu was intercepted at Ewu Junction, leading to the seizure of 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tramadol tablets, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine. Suspect Taiye Jethro was arrested.
In addition to enforcement actions, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding sensitisation sessions in schools, worship centres, military formations, and workplaces.
These included lectures at Mind City College, Saki, Oyo; Gwagwarwa Primary School, Nasarawa LGA, Kano; and to officers of the Nigerian Army’s 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru, Yobe. Advocacy visits were also made to the Nigerian Correctional Service in Ekiti and the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Commending the officers involved, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged operatives nationwide to maintain the agency’s “balanced approach” in combating the drug menace.
The NDLEA’s latest operations bring renewed attention to the growing challenge of drug trafficking in Nigeria, particularly the use of waterways for cross-border smuggling.
