A woman has been arrested after correctional officers allegedly found a suspected psychoactive drug concealed in a beverage sachet during screening at a custodial centre in Ogun State.
Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi was arrested at about 1:33pm on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the entrance of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Olayinka Odukoya, spokesperson for the Ogun State Command, said officers discovered a substance suspected to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug, hidden inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder. The package was allegedly intended for Sowunmi’s son, Dare Sowunmi, an inmate at the facility who is on death row.
The NCoS said the discovery was made during routine screening procedures at the prison’s main entrance. Following the interception, Mrs Sowunmi was detained and subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The incident has renewed attention on efforts to prevent the movement of prohibited substances and other contraband into custodial facilities. Correctional authorities maintain that strict screening procedures are necessary to protect inmates, staff and the wider public.
The Controller of Corrections in Ogun State, Abioye Adesina, praised the officers involved for their vigilance and adherence to established security procedures. He said the correctional service operates a zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking and other activities that could compromise security inside its facilities.
Adesina warned that attempts to introduce prohibited items into custodial centres would attract legal action. He also urged members of the public to respect prison security procedures and avoid actions that could undermine the safe operation of correctional facilities.
The suspected substance has not been independently confirmed as a controlled drug in the information provided, and the allegations against Mrs Sowunmi have not been proven in court. Her handover to the NDLEA is expected to allow investigators to establish the nature of the substance and determine whether charges should follow.
