The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, founder of The Turn of Mercy Church in Lagos, for allegedly masterminding multiple shipments of high-grade cannabis known as “Ghana Loud” into Nigeria.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, describing it as the result of “months on the run” by the suspect.
Prophet Adefolusho was taken into custody on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, after operatives waited from morning until the end of the Sunday service.
“Officers moved in on him the moment he stepped out of the church premises,” Babafemi said.
The clergyman had twice evaded arrest and fled to Ghana in June after NDLEA operatives began trailing him following the seizure of two drug shipments linked to him.
“The first haul, 200kg of Ghana Loud, was intercepted on June 4, 2025, at Okun Ajah beach, while another 700kg was recovered from his delivery van on July 6, 2025,” Babafemi revealed.
In his statement, the pastor admitted smuggling the drugs through waterways from Ghana into Nigeria and said he fled to the West African country to hide after escaping arrest twice.
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The arrest was part of a wider nationwide operation in which NDLEA operatives seized a total of 3.4 tonnes of assorted drugs across Lagos, Nasarawa, Kano, Gombe, and Edo states, according to Nairametrics.
In Lagos, on Thursday, August 7, NDLEA raided an apartment at Kishi House, 11 Layi Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Udo Ukoh and seizing 32 pouches of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 15.63kg.
In Nasarawa, on Saturday, August 9, operatives seized 3,093kg of skunk from Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25) at New Karu.
In Kano, on Friday, August 8, 29-year-old Nura Yahaya was arrested in Geza, Kumbotso, with 639 blocks of skunk weighing 359kg.
Two days earlier, on Wednesday, August 6, Umar Adamu Umar (27) was caught along the Zaria-Kano road with 9kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain.
That same Friday, NDLEA seized 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam from Usman Musa (30) at Gadar Tamburawa.
In Gombe, on Friday, August 8, a raid at Tudun Wadan Pantami led to the recovery of 550,266 opioid pills, mostly tramadol, with suspect Usama Isah arrested.
The following day, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was caught on Potiskum road, Bajoga, with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
In Edo, on Wednesday, August 6, NDLEA intercepted a white Toyota Hiace bus (plate YAB 5522 K) at Ewu junction, recovering 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine.
Taiye Jethro was arrested in connection with the seizure. Alongside enforcement, NDLEA commands intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation efforts over the past week.
Activities included lectures at Mind City College, Saki (Oyo State), Gwagwarwa Primary School, Nasarawa LGA (Kano State), and for officers of the Nigerian Army’s 241 Recce Model Battalion in Nguru (Yobe State).
Other advocacy sessions were held with the Engine Grinders Association in Gboko (Benue State), the Nigerian Correctional Service in Ado Ekiti, and the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo commands for their arrests, seizures, and operational effectiveness, urging officers nationwide to maintain a balanced approach to drug control through both enforcement and advocacy.
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Image Credit: InfoStride News
