The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 83-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday, with consignments of methamphetamine and Colorado concealed around her waist. This is barely a year after she was nabbed, prosecuted, and convicted for the same offence. The octogenarian was arrested on Wednesday at her home in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa LGA, Abia State.
According to the NDLEA, Uloma's re-arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that she runs a notorious drug joint that harbours criminal elements who terrorise the community. Her first encounter with the law was on May 17, 2025, when she was arrested by operatives of the agency at her residence in the same village, alongside her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, with 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves, and 12 grams of tramadol.
At the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, NDLEA operatives arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, with 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a species of cannabis, weighing 32.74 kilograms, concealed in two travelling bags. The suspect had travelled from Thailand via Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431 and confessed to having previously trafficked through other African countries.
NDLEA operatives at the Import Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a consignment of nine cartons from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight. A joint examination of the shipment uncovered 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 307.20kg. In another interdiction at the Lagos airport, a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom was found to contain 70 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, weighing 75.90kg.
A clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, was arrested in connection with the seizure, followed by Taofiq Ajibola, an Uber driver, Adetunji Adebayo, and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, a clothing trader. They claimed the drugs were sent by UK-based associates. Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives raided Iyala Nkun village, Ikom LGA, Cross River State, arresting Adama Inuwa with 181 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,100kg and 17.15kg of cannabis seeds.
In Edo, NDLEA operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry conveying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83kg, arresting Monday Orji, Monday Lawal, and Precious Uduegele. In another raid, Ojugo Mercy was arrested at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, Benin City, with 989 grams of Loud, 13 grams of Colorado, and 83 grams of methamphetamine.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men involved in the operations for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach. He enjoined them to continue with the current balanced approach to the agency's drug control efforts. KEY_POINT: The NDLEA arrested an 83-year-old grandmother for trafficking methamphetamine and Colorado. KEY_POINT: A South African woman was arrested at Port Harcourt International Airport with 32.74 kilograms of cannabis. KEY_POINT: The NDLEA intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs across Nigeria, including cannabis, methamphetamine, and tramadol.
