Wanted Lagos General Overseer Arrested for Cross-Border Drug Trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church in Lagos, for allegedly masterminding multiple shipments of illicit cannabis into Nigeria. His arrest took place on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church located in Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, Lagos, following months of eluding capture.

NDLEA operatives had been trailing the clergyman since June 2025 after seizing two large shipments of “Ghana Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis linked to him. The first seizure involved 200 kilograms of the substance intercepted on June 4 at Okun Ajah beach, while the second consignment, weighing 700 kilograms, was recovered from his delivery van on July 6.

According to NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, officers observed the church from morning until the Sunday worship service ended in the evening before apprehending Prophet Adefolusho as he stepped out of the church premises. The suspect admitted to ferrying the illicit drugs via waterways from Ghana into Nigeria and disclosed that he fled to Ghana to hide after escaping arrest twice earlier.

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The arrest forms part of a larger nationwide crackdown by NDLEA, which in recent days has seized over 3.4 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs across several states, including Lagos, Nasarawa, Kano, Gombe, and Edo.

This operation has seen numerous arrests, accompanied by significant drug seizures:

• In Lagos, 15.63 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis was recovered in Ikoyi.
• Nasarawa State yielded 3,093 kilograms of skunk cannabis from multiple suspects.
• Kano State arrests involved skunk cannabis, synthetic cannabis, and tramadol pills with diazepam ampoules.
• In Gombe, over half a million opioid pills were seized alongside tramadol capsules.
• Edo State saw the confiscation of tramadol capsules, tablets, and pentazocine ampoules from a bus at Ewu Junction.

NDLEA’s chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has commended the effective operations of the agency across the states and urged continued efforts combining enforcement with public sensitization under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

Prophet Adefolusho’s arrest marks a significant blow to drug trafficking networks exploiting religious and transport channels for illicit drug movement into Nigeria. The NDLEA continues to intensify its efforts to dismantle drug syndicates and prevent substance abuse across the country.