Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency> (NDLEA) have arrested a 46-year-old woman, Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, popularly known as “Iya Ghana,” over her alleged role in a cross-border drug distribution network operating between Nigeria and Ghana.
The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday, March 29, 2026, by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who said the operation was part of intensified efforts to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates across the country.
According to the statement, Jolayemi was apprehended during a raid carried out by operatives of the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit at her residence located at 13 Carter Street, Yaba, Lagos.
During the operation, officers also arrested her alleged sales associate, Sarah Zainab Agbabiaka, 31.
Babafemi stated that Jolayemi, who is widely known in the area as “Iya Ghana,” publicly trades in local fabrics but allegedly runs a drug distribution network beneath the surface.
“She trades in local fabric on the surface but beneath she runs a drug distribution network between Nigeria and Ghana,” the statement said.
Operatives recovered 135 blocks of a cannabis strain known as “Ghana Loud,” weighing 76.30 kilograms, from the residence.
The NDLEA also reported a series of arrests and major drug seizures across several states within the same period.
In Lagos, operatives intercepted a consignment of cocaine concealed inside heads of imported dry fish, locally called “Okporoko.” The seizure led to the arrest of a 36-year-old suspect, Akputa Dickson Ejike. Authorities recovered 237 wraps of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms, with investigations indicating the shipment was bound for Delhi, India.
In a separate operation at Doyin bus stop in Surulere, Lagos, officers arrested Anayo Lucky Ohabiro with 78 blocks of cannabis weighing 41 kilograms.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives raided a drug camp along Erinmo Road in Efon-Alaaye, arresting an 80-year-old suspect, Oke Samuel. The team recovered 2.2 kilograms of skunk and small quantities of methamphetamine during the raid.
Similarly, in Ondo State, operatives stormed an uncompleted building in Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area, where they seized 894.72 kilograms of cannabis from a suspect identified as Enuwa Kehinde Kingsley.
In Benue State, a 35-year-old suspect, Saater Nyam, was arrested during a raid at Pevi village in Guma LGA, leading to the recovery of 116.7 kilograms of skunk.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives uncovered a warehouse in Ekpoma, Esan West LGA, resulting in the arrest of a 25-year-old suspect, Felix Donald. Authorities seized 576.5 kilograms of cannabis and 33 bottles of codeine-based syrup from the location.
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In Taraba State, officers intercepted a truck transporting 100 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 135 kilograms concealed in bags of animal feed. Two suspects, Osama Mamuda and Auwal Umar, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
The agency also recorded significant interceptions at Nigeria’s international airports.
NDLEA operatives arrested two suspected traffickers at Lagos and Port Harcourt airports who had ingested a combined total of 125 wraps of heroin in separate smuggling attempts.
One suspect was apprehended upon arrival in Port Harcourt from Doha, while the other was arrested in Lagos after flying in from Madagascar via Addis Ababa. Both were found to have swallowed multiple wraps of heroin, which were later expelled and recovered by authorities.
The agency recalled that in October 2024, operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport intercepted two businessmen and a Canada-based nurse for cocaine and cannabis trafficking offences.
One of the suspects was arrested while attempting to board a flight to Thailand with ingested cocaine, while another was apprehended on arrival from Brazil for a similar offence. The nurse was found with parcels of cannabis concealed in her luggage.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations to curb drug trafficking networks and prevent the circulation of illicit substances within and outside Nigeria.