The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has re-arrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for alleged drug trafficking, barely a year after she was convicted for a similar offence, as operatives intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs across several states.
The agency also arrested a South African woman with 32.74 kilogrammes of cannabis at the Port Harcourt International Airport and seized hundreds of thousands of opioid tablets, cannabis consignments and other illicit substances in coordinated operations across Lagos, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River and Ondo states.
According to a statement by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Uloma was arrested on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.
She was reportedly found with quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, concealed around her waist with a wrapper.
The agency said her arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that she allegedly operated a drug joint frequented by criminal elements accused of terrorising the community.
Uloma was previously arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at the same residence. The NDLEA recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol from them.
Both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦200,000 each. They reportedly paid the fines and were released.
South African Woman Arrested with 32.74kg of Cannabis
At the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service, arrested a South African national, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, with 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a cannabis strain weighing 32.74 kilogrammes.
The drugs were allegedly concealed in two travelling bags. The suspect had travelled from Thailand through Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431.
According to the agency, she confessed to previously trafficking drugs through other African countries and attempting to expand her operations to Port Harcourt.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, operatives intercepted 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 307.20 kilogrammes, in nine cartons shipped from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight.
The consignment, which arrived on September 29, was subjected to a joint examination on October 6.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90 kilogrammes in six Ghana-Must-Go bags contained in a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom.
The agency arrested a 54-year-old clearing agent, John Edrah, on September 30, followed by Taofiq Ajibola, a 54-year-old Uber driver, who allegedly attempted to collect one of the bags at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi.
Adetunji Adebayo and 48-year-old clothing trader Kazeem Damola Dosunmu were subsequently arrested while allegedly attempting to collect the remaining five bags.
Ajibola reportedly identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the sender of the drugs, while Dosunmu said his consignment came from another UK-based individual identified as Yusuf.
Over 2,000kg of Cannabis Seized in Cross River, Edo, Ondo
In Cross River State, NDLEA operatives arrested 46-year-old Adama Inuwa during a raid on Iyala Nkun village, Ikom Local Government Area, on October 4.
The operation led to the seizure of 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilogrammes and 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, officers intercepted a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5, recovering 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83 kilogrammes.
Three suspects — Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20 — were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In a separate operation in Benin City, 26-year-old Ojugo Mercy was arrested at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, with 989 grammes of Loud, 13 grammes of Colorado and 83 grammes of methamphetamine.
In Ondo State, operatives arrested 21-year-old Happy Endurance at her hideout in the Shasha area of Akure on October 5, recovering 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290 kilogrammes.
A separate raid on an apartment in Oba-Ile, Akure, led to the arrest of 42-year-old Tunde Adebayo, with 35 bags of cannabis weighing 351 kilogrammes.
In Lagos, a suspect identified as Musbau Balogun Adekunle was arrested in Orile on October 6 with 32.51 kilogrammes of skunk and 52.65 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds, bringing the total seizure to 85.16 kilogrammes.
Tramadol, Diazepam Seized in Taraba, Kano, Kaduna
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, at Chanchanji village, Wukari Local Government Area, on October 9.
The suspects were found with 166,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 107 kilogrammes.
On the same day, a stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road in Kano State led to the arrest of 32-year-old Yahaya Musa with 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 with 31 jumbo bags and 775 blocks of skunk, with a combined weight of 1,027 kilogrammes.
NDLEA Recovers Rifles, Ammunition in Plateau
The agency also recovered assorted firearms and ammunition during a raid on the residence of 45-year-old Christian Chukwudi Uju at Rukuba Road, Jos, Plateau State, on October 8.
Items recovered included 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 recovery highlights the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and investigate suspected links between illicit drug activities and other criminal operations.
NDLEA Intensifies Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign
Beyond enforcement, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.
Recent activities included enlightenment 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.
Commending officers and men of 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.), praised their professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with public education and preventive measures.
