KEY POINTS
- Pastor arrested for cross-border drug trafficking.
- NDLEA seized cannabis linked to the Ghana route.
- Nationwide operations net multiple suspects and drug hauls.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Prophet Adefolusho Olasele—known in some circles as Abbas Ajakaiye—the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, in connection with an alleged cross-border drug trafficking ring.
Olasele, who had evaded capture for months, was taken into custody on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos, moments after concluding evening worship.
NDLEA operatives had reportedly been stationed outside the premises since morning, waiting for the service to end before making their move.
Pastor’s link to cross-border drug trafficking
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the pastor fled to Ghana in June after being linked to two major cannabis seizures: 200 kilograms recovered at Okun Ajah beach on June 4 and 700 kilograms found in his delivery van on July 6. Both consignments, he said, were part of a larger trafficking network smuggling “Ghana Loud,” a potent cannabis strain, into Nigeria via waterways.
The agency alleges Olasele confessed to moving the illicit cargo across the Gulf of Guinea before stashing it in Lagos for distribution. The dramatic arrest concluded weeks of surveillance during which Olasele had twice evaded capture by NDLEA dragnets earlier this year.
NDLEA nets multiple suspects in nationwide sweep
The NDLEA conducted several operations in Lagos in recent days. On Thursday, operatives raided an apartment in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Ukoh and seizing 32 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 15.63 kilograms.
In Nasarawa State, officers intercepted 3,093 kilograms of skunk from three suspects—Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny, 51; Okem Raphael, 33; and Chekwube Odo, 25—in New Karu.
Kano State authorities seized another 359 kilograms of the drug from 29-year-old Nura Yahaya, while along Zaria-Kano Road, 27-year-old Umar Adamu Umar was caught with nine kilograms of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado.
Large opioid haul recovered in Gombe State
In Gombe State, NDLEA recovered over half a million opioid pills from an uncompleted building in Tudun Wadan Pantami, arresting suspect Usama Isah. The following day, officers apprehended a 23-year-old man named Ibrahim Adamu, who was found with 50,000 tramadol capsules along Potiskum Road in Bajoga.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, a Toyota Hiace bus traveling from Onitsha to Kogi State was intercepted at Ewu junction. Furthermore, inside were 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 assorted tablets, and 400 pentazocine ampoules. The driver, Taiye Jethro, was taken into custody.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the officers for what he called a “multi-pronged” crackdown and urged operatives nationwide to sustain a balanced approach that targets both traffickers and supply chains.
