A woman, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, has been arrested by the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service for allegedly attempting to smuggle a suspected illicit drug into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta.
The substance was allegedly concealed in a sachet of a popular beverage powder and was reportedly intended for Sowunmi’s son, Dare Sowunmi, who is on death row at the correctional facility.
The Command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to Odukoya, the woman was arrested at about 1:33pm on Friday, August 28, 2026, during routine screening at the main entrance of the facility.
He said officers discovered a substance suspected to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug, hidden inside the beverage powder sachet.
Odukoya said the woman was immediately detained after the suspected drug was intercepted.
He added that she was subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
He said, “At approximately 1:33 PM on Friday, August 28, 2026, routine screening procedures at the facility’s main entry point led to the detection of suspicious substances, believed to be the psychoactive synthetic drug commonly known as ‘Colos,’ concealed within a sachet of a popular beverage powder.”
Odukoya said the substance was allegedly being taken to Dare Sowunmi, who is currently on death row at the facility.
NCS warns against smuggling
The Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the officers for detecting the suspected drug during the screening.
Adesina said the Correctional Service would continue to maintain strict security measures to prevent the introduction of drugs and other prohibited items into custodial centres.
“Our custodial facilities exist to ensure public safety, reformation, and rehabilitation. We maintain an absolute zero-tolerance policy for drug trafficking or any illegal acts designed to compromise security,” he said.
He warned that anyone attempting to introduce contraband into correctional facilities would face legal action.
The command also urged members of the public to respect security procedures at custodial centres, stressing that attempts to compromise their operations would be dealt with according to the law.
The suspect has been handed over to the NDLEA, while investigation into the alleged attempt to smuggle the substance into the facility continues.
