The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Prophet Adefolusho Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, over his alleged involvement in multiple cross-border drug shipments from Ghana to Nigeria.

Olasele, who had been on the run for months, was apprehended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church on Ogombo Road, Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said operatives waited until the conclusion of the Sunday service before arresting him as he exited the premises.

The agency had been trailing Olasele since June, linking him to two seizures of “Ghana Loud” — a potent strain of cannabis. The first, weighing 200kg, was recovered at Okun Ajah Beach on June 4, while another 700kg was intercepted from his delivery van on July 6. According to Babafemi, the clergyman fled to Ghana after evading arrest twice.

“In his statement, he admitted ferrying the illicit consignments through the waterways from Ghana into Nigeria,” Babafemi said.

In a separate Lagos operation on Thursday, NDLEA operatives raided an apartment at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Ukoh and recovering 32 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 15.63kg.

In Nasarawa State, a Saturday operation led to the seizure of 3,093kg of skunk from Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25) in New Karu.

In Kano, 29-year-old Nura Yahaya was arrested on Friday, August 8, at Geza, Kumbotso, with 639 blocks of skunk weighing 359kg, while Umar Adamu Umar (27) was nabbed on Wednesday, August 6, with 9kg of Colorado along Zaria–Kano Road.

In Gombe State, a raid on an uncompleted building in Tudun Wadan Pantami on Friday uncovered 550,266 opioid pills, leading to the arrest of Usama Isah. The following day, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was caught with 50,000 capsules of tramadol along Potiskum Road, Bajoga.

In Edo State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Onitsha to Isanlu, Kogi State, at Ewu Junction on Wednesday. The search yielded 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 pentazocine ampoules. The driver, Taiye Jethro, was arrested.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended the officers for their efforts and urged them to maintain a balanced and relentless approach to drug control operations nationwide.