The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 83-year-old woman in Abia State over alleged drug trafficking, less than a year after she was convicted of similar offences.
The suspect, identified as Uloma Uchechi Sunday, was apprehended on Wednesday, October 7, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area. NDLEA operatives reportedly discovered suspected methamphetamine and Colorado concealed around her waist with a wrapper.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the arrest followed intelligence reports linking the woman’s residence to a drug distribution spot allegedly patronised by individuals involved in criminal activities in the community.
According to the agency, Uloma had previously been arrested at the same address on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi.
During that operation, officers recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol.
Babafemi said, “Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. They paid the fine and were released by the court.”
However, the agency alleged that the elderly woman returned to the illicit business after regaining her freedom and went on to establish a drug joint at her residence.
“Undeterred, the notorious old woman promptly returned to the criminal trade and escalated the scale by setting up a drug joint where she harbours dangerous characters,” the statement added.
South African woman arrested with 32.74kg of cannabis
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State over the alleged trafficking of 32.74 kilogrammes of Thai Loud, a cannabis strain.
The substance, packaged in 30 parcels, was reportedly hidden in two travelling bags. The suspect had travelled from Thailand through Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, QR1431.
Babafemi said, “She confessed to having previously trafficked through other African countries, and was expanding her route to Port Harcourt when she was caught.”
Large drug shipments intercepted in Lagos
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg weighing 307.20kg.
The shipment arrived from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight on September 29. After placing it under surveillance, officers conducted a joint inspection on October 6 and discovered the tablets packed in nine cartons.
In another operation, operatives seized 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90kg from a cargo shipment arriving from the United Kingdom. The synthetic drug was reportedly packed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags.
A clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, was arrested on September 30. An Uber driver, Taofiq Ajibola, also 54, was later apprehended while collecting one of the bags at a logistics firm in Mafoluku, Oshodi.
The agency subsequently arrested Adetunji Adebayo and 48-year-old clothing trader Kazeem Damola Dosunmu when they arrived to retrieve the remaining five bags.
According to Babafemi, Ajibola identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the person who sent the drugs, while Dosunmu claimed his consignment came from another man based in the UK, identified as Yusuf.
More arrests and seizures across the country
In Cross River State, officers arrested 46-year-old Adama Inuwa at Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on October 4 after a period of surveillance.
The operation led to the recovery of 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100kg, alongside 17.15kg of cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry carrying 1,049 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 702.83kg at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5.
Three men — Monday Orji, 52, Monday Lawal, 40, and Precious Uduegele, 20 — were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Another raid in Asoro, off Sakponba Road, Benin City, resulted in the arrest of 26-year-old Ojugo Mercy. Officers reportedly recovered 989 grammes of Loud, 13 grammes of Colorado and 83 grammes of methamphetamine.
In Ondo State, a 21-year-old woman, Happy Endurance, was arrested at a hideout in the Shasha area of Akure on October 5, with 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290kg.
On the same day, officers raided an apartment in Oba-Ile, Akure, where they arrested 42-year-old Tunde Adebayo and seized 35 bags of cannabis weighing 351kg.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives working with soldiers arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, in Chanchanji village, Wukari Local Government Area, on October 9.
The two suspects were allegedly found with 166,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg weighing 107kg.
Meanwhile, a stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road in Kano State led to the arrest of 32-year-old Yahaya Musa on October 9. The agency said he was carrying 24,990 capsules of tramadol, 50,000 tablets of diazepam and 22,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, operatives on patrol along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway arrested 29-year-old Mohammed Musa and recovered 31 jumbo bags and 775 blocks of skunk weighing a total of 1,027kg.
Another suspect, Musbau Balogun Adekunle, was arrested in the Orile area of Lagos on October 6. Officers seized 32.51kg of skunk and 52.65kg of cannabis seeds, amounting to 85.16kg.
In Plateau State, NDLEA personnel raided the residence of 45-year-old Christian Chukwudi Uju along Rukuba Road in Jos on October 8.
The search reportedly yielded 47 grammes of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, one locally made firearm, 199 live cartridges, five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and one round of 9mm ammunition.
NDLEA chief praises officers
Beyond its enforcement operations, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse campaign, organising awareness sessions for students and school staff in Oyo, Ebonyi, Niger, Kano, Lagos and Ogun states.
Schools visited included Progressive Grammar School in Tede, Oyo State; Eghugo Technical College in Afikpo, Ebonyi State; Baptist High School in Lambata, Niger State; and Ipara Senior and Junior Community Secondary School in Badagry, Lagos State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised officers involved in the operations across several state commands and the two international airports.
Babafemi said Marwa commended the officers “for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the various successful operations” and urged them “to continue with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.”
