The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) began 2025 with a major breakthrough, capturing a high-profile drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, also known as “Iya Ruka.

She was arrested on January 1 at her residence in the Okota area of Lagos, following the seizure of a truck loaded with a massive consignment of illegal drugs linked to her operations.

For years, Alhaja Ajoke, a prominent figure in Lagos, had eluded law enforcement while allegedly heading a drug cartel operating out of Mushin. However, her run ended when NDLEA operatives intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks filled with 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis.

The truck, driven by her employee, 41-year-old Abideen Adio, was stopped based on credible intelligence. This led operatives to her residence at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, where she was taken into custody.

Publicly, Alhaja Ajoke portrayed herself as a successful businesswoman dealing in imported fabrics and shoes from China. Behind the scenes, however, she orchestrated one of Lagos’s largest illicit drug networks. She also held the prestigious title of Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, a well-known organization of influential women in Lagos.

This high-profile arrest underscores the NDLEA’s resolve to combat drug trafficking and dismantle criminal networks in Nigeria. Alhaja Ajoke’s apprehension is a significant step in the agency's efforts to curb the menace of illicit drug trade in the region.

Stay updated for more details on this unfolding story.