The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for allegedly returning to drug trafficking less than a year after she was convicted of drug-related offences.
The agency also apprehended a South African national, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State, with 32.74 kilogrammes of cannabis allegedly concealed in two travel bags.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrests in a statement on Sunday, outlining a series of drug seizures and operations conducted across several states.
According to Babafemi, operatives arrested Uloma on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. She was allegedly found with quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado wrapped around her waist with a wrapper.
The spokesperson said the arrest followed intelligence reports alleging that the octogenarian operated a notorious drug joint where criminal elements gathered and terrorised members of the community.
Uloma had previously been arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at the same address.
During that operation, NDLEA operatives recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol.
The agency said both women pleaded guilty to the offences and were sentenced to 12 months in prison, with an option of a ₦200,000 fine each. They reportedly paid the fines and were released.
However, the NDLEA alleged that Uloma resumed her involvement in the illicit drug trade after her release and subsequently established a drug joint.
South African woman arrested at Port Harcourt airport
In a separate operation at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, NDLEA operatives, working alongside officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, intercepted 30 parcels of cannabis known as Thai Loud, weighing 32.74kg.
The consignment was allegedly concealed in two travelling bags belonging to Jessie, who reportedly arrived from Thailand through Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431.
According to the statement, the suspect told investigators that she had previously trafficked drugs through other African countries and was expanding her routes to Port Harcourt when she was arrested.
NDLEA intercepts 354,000 opioid tablets, 75.9kg Colorado in Lagos
At the Import Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, operatives intercepted nine cartons of pharmaceutical products shipped from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight.
The shipment, which arrived on September 29, was placed under surveillance before a joint examination conducted on Tuesday, October 6, uncovered 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg weighing 307.20kg.
In another operation at the Lagos airport, officers intercepted a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom containing 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90kg.
The cannabis was allegedly concealed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags that arrived on September 29.
A 54-year-old clearing agent, John Edrah, was arrested on September 30. Another 54-year-old suspect, Taofiq Ajibola, an Uber driver, was apprehended while attempting to collect one of the bags at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi.
Two additional suspects, Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, a 48-year-old clothing trader, were later arrested while allegedly attempting to collect the remaining five bags.
The NDLEA said Ajibola told investigators that the drugs had been sent by an associate in the United Kingdom identified as Lukman Sa’idu. Dosunmu, on the other hand, reportedly said his consignment came from another UK-based individual, Yusuf.
Cross River, Edo operations yield over 1.8 tonnes of cannabis
In Cross River State, operatives arrested 46-year-old Adama Inuwa during a raid on Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on Sunday, October 4.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100kg, alongside 17.15kg of cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, officers intercepted a black Toyota Camry carrying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83kg at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on Monday, October 5.
Three suspects — Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20 — were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In a separate operation at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, Benin City, the agency arrested 26-year-old Ojugo Mercy. Officers allegedly recovered 989 grammes of Loud, 13 grammes of Colorado and 83 grammes of methamphetamine from her.
Ondo raids lead to cannabis seizures, two arrests
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 21-year-old Happy Endurance at her hideout in the Shasha area of Akure on Monday, October 5, following surveillance.
The operation led to the recovery of 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290kg.
Another raid conducted the same day at an apartment in Oba-Ile, Akure, resulted in the arrest of 42-year-old Tunde Adebayo and the seizure of 35 bags of cannabis weighing 351kg.
Tramadol, other controlled drugs intercepted in Taraba, Kano
In Taraba State, operatives working with soldiers arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, at Chanchanji village in Wukari Local Government Area on Friday, October 9.
The two suspects were allegedly found with 166,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 107kg.
Similarly, a stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road in Kano State on October 9 led to the arrest of 32-year-old Yahaya Musa.
The agency said officers recovered 24,990 capsules of tramadol, 50,000 tablets of diazepam and 22,000 tablets of Exol-5 from him.
NDLEA recovers 1,027kg of cannabis in Kaduna
Along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested 29-year-old Mohammed Musa during a patrol.
The suspect was allegedly transporting 31 jumbo bags of skunk and 775 compressed blocks of the same substance, with the combined seizure weighing 1,027kg.
In another operation in Lagos, officers arrested Musbau Balogun Adekunle at Orile on Tuesday, October 6, with 32.51kg of skunk and 52.65kg of cannabis seeds, bringing the total seizure to 85.16kg.
Plateau raid uncovers suspected drugs, firearms and ammunition
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of 45-year-old Christian Chukwudi Uju at Rukuba Road, Jos, on Thursday, October 8.
The search yielded 47 grammes of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, one locally made gun, 199 live cartridges, five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and one round of 9mm ammunition.
The agency did not provide further details on the alleged connection between the suspect and the recovered weapons in the statement.
NDLEA intensifies anti-drug awareness campaigns
Alongside its enforcement operations, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programme in schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities during the week under review.
The campaign included awareness lectures at Progressive Grammar School, Tede, Oyo State; Ehugbo Technical College, Afikpo, Ebonyi State; Baptist High School, Lambata, Niger State; Madarasatul Tarbiyatul Islamiya, Galangalan Tudun Wada, Kano State; Ipara Senior and Junior Community Secondary School, Badagry, Lagos State; and Manbahu Ridwanullah Nursery and Primary School, Olomore, Abeokuta, Ogun State, among other locations.
Commending personnel from the Lagos, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo and Plateau commands, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the momentum.
Marwa also called on officers nationwide to maintain what he described as a balanced approach to the agency’s drug control activities.
