A routine security check reportedly stopped a suspected drug delivery before it reached an inmate on death row.
A woman, identified as Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, has been arrested after correctional officers allegedly found a suspected psychoactive substance concealed in a sachet of beverage powder at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Authorities said she was allegedly attempting to deliver the substance to her son, Dare Sowunmi, who is being held at the facility on death row.
Substance Allegedly Hidden in Beverage Sachet
The incident occurred on Friday, August 28, 2026, during routine screening at the correctional centre’s entrance.
According to Olayinka Odukoya, spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Ogun State, officers detected a substance suspected to be “colos,” a psychoactive synthetic drug.
The substance was allegedly concealed inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder, according to the NCoS.
Officers detained Mrs Sowunmi after the discovery and subsequently transferred her to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
NCoS Vows Tough Action on Contraband
Abioye Adesina, Controller of Corrections for the Ogun State Command, commended the officers who detected the alleged contraband during the screening process.
He said the correctional service would maintain a strict stance against attempts to introduce drugs or other prohibited items into custodial facilities.
The command emphasized that its security measures are intended to protect the public while supporting the correctional system’s rehabilitation and reformation functions.
Investigation Underway
The NCoS urged members of the public to comply with regulations governing visits and deliveries to correctional facilities.
It also warned that attempts to bypass security procedures or introduce prohibited materials could result in legal action.
The investigation has now been handed over to the NDLEA, which is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted delivery and take any further action warranted by its findings.
The substance remains described as suspected, pending the outcome of the relevant investigation and testing.