NDLEA bursts cartels headed by socialite, filmmaker

By Balarabe Oshiafi

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have arrested a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Ajoke Elediye on New Year Day in her mansion at Okota area of Lagos following the interception of a truckload of illicit drug consignment from her staff same day.

Alhaji Ajoke known in the drug underworld and social circle as “Iya Ruka”, 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.

The lid was however blown off her invincibility last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilogrammes of imported cannabis and driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

The operatives subsequently stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole street, off Ago Palace way, Okota, where she was arrested.

According to the spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, on the surface, Alhaja Ajoke was a businesswoman who imported fabrics and shoes from China but beneath was a massive illicit drug trade.

She was also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.

Babafemi said in another major operation, NDLEA officers on Friday 27th December 2024 arrested a US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker, Emeka Mbadiwe, who was also a motivational speaker at his Lekki Hotel room following the arrest of his partner, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu, earlier same day at a warehouse in Ajao estate Ikeja, where he was sent by Mbadiwe to collect a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 17.3 kilogrammes, which arrived the Import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on 24th December 2024 from the United States on a Delta Airline flight, concealed in large wooden boxes.

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