The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has re-arrested an 83-year-old woman, Mrs Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for drug offences in Abia State. She was arrested on October 7, 2026, at her home in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area. Methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, were found tied to her waist with a wrapper. The NDLEA stated that her arrest followed intelligence that she runs a drug joint harbouring criminals who terrorise the community.
This is not Sunday's first encounter with the law. She was first arrested on May 17, 2025, at the same residence with her daughter, Chisom, 32. They were found with 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grams of tramadol. Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment or a N200,000 fine each. They paid the fine and were freed.
In a separate operation, the NDLEA and Customs officers arrested a South African, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, with 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 32.74kg. The drugs were hidden in two travelling bags. Jessie arrived from Thailand via Doha on Qatar Airways flight QR1431. She told investigators she had trafficked through other African countries and was expanding her route to Port Harcourt.
The NDLEA also intercepted several consignments of illicit drugs at various airports and seaports. At the Import Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, officers intercepted nine cartons from Pakistan that arrived on a Royal Air Maroc flight on September 29. A joint examination found 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 307.20kg.
In another operation, a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom, which arrived on September 29, was found to contain 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90kg in six Ghana-Must-Go bags. A clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, was arrested on September 30. Taofiq Ajibola, 54, an Uber driver, was arrested while collecting one bag at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi. Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, a clothing trader, were arrested while collecting the other five.
The NDLEA carried out successful operations in several states, including Cross River, Edo, Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, and Kano. In Cross River, officers raided Iyala Nkun village, Ikom LGA, and arrested Adama Inuwa, 46, with 181 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,100kg and 17.15kg of cannabis seeds. In Edo, operatives intercepted a Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East LGA, carrying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83kg.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (rtd), commended the Lagos, MMIA, PHIA, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo, and Plateau commands for their professionalism. He urged officers nationwide to sustain the agency's balanced approach to drug control. The NDLEA also continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) lectures in schools, worship centres, and communities.
Key points
- The 83-year-old woman, Mrs Uloma Uchechi Sunday, was re-arrested for drug offences in Abia State.
- The NDLEA intercepted several consignments of illicit drugs at various airports and seaports, including 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg and 70 parcels of Colorado.
- The NDLEA carried out successful operations in several states, arresting suspects and seizing large quantities of illicit drugs.
