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, over allegations of orchestrating cross-border drug trafficking operations.
Olasele, who had reportedly been on the run for months, was apprehended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos. NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, waited for him to conclude his Sunday service before taking him into custody.
His arrest followed months of investigation linking him to large-scale shipments of “Ghana Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis smuggled into Nigeria through waterways.
Authorities said Olasele had previously evaded arrest twice and fled to Ghana after two major seizures in June and July—200kg of cannabis recovered at Okun Ajah beach on June 4, and another 700kg intercepted from his delivery van on July 6.
In custody, he allegedly confessed to transporting the consignments from Ghana into Nigeria.
The NDLEA also reported multiple operations across the country in the past week:
Lagos: On August 7, operatives raided an apartment in Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Udo Ukoh and seizing 32 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 15.63kg.
Nasarawa State: On August 9, three men—Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25)—were caught with 3,093kg of skunk in New Karu.
Kano State: On August 8, Nura Yahaya (29) was arrested with 359kg of skunk in Kumbotso, while on August 6, Umar Adamu Umar (27) was caught with 9kg of synthetic cannabis along Zaria-Kano Road.
On August 8, another suspect, Usman Musa (30), was intercepted with 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam.
Gombe State: A raid in Tudun Wadan Pantami on August 8 led to the arrest of Usama Isah and the seizure of 550,266 opioid pills, mainly tramadol. On August 9, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was arrested in Bajoga with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
Edo State: On August 6, operatives intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus at Ewu junction, recovering 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, arresting the driver, Taiye Jethro.
The NDLEA said the coordinated arrests and seizures reflect ongoing efforts to dismantle major drug trafficking networks across Nigeria and West Africa.
