The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for alleged drug trafficking, barely a year after she was convicted of a similar offence. According to the agency, Uloma was arrested on Wednesday, October 7, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The octogenarian was allegedly found with quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, tied around her waist in a wrapper.
The NDLEA said Uloma's arrest followed intelligence indicating that she operated a notorious drug joint allegedly patronised by criminal elements terrorising the community. Uloma was previously arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at the same residence. Operatives recovered 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grams of Tramadol during the operation. Both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, with the option of a N200,000 fine each.
In a separate operation at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, a South African national, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, known as Thai Loud, was arrested with 32.74 kilograms of cannabis. The drugs were concealed in two travelling bags, according to the agency. The suspect had reportedly travelled from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight and allegedly confessed to previously trafficking drugs through other African countries before expanding her operations to Port Harcourt.
The NDLEA also intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs across several states, including Abia, Lagos, Rivers, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River and Ondo states. At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 354,000 Tapentadol tablets, each weighing 250mg, in a shipment from Pakistan. The nine-carton consignment arrived aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight on September 29 and was placed under surveillance.
In Cross River State, an operation at Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on Sunday, October 4, led to the arrest of Adama Inuwa, 46, with 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilogrammes and 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds. In Edo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry conveying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83 kilogrammes at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5.
The NDLEA also made several other arrests and seizures in various states, including the arrest of 54-year-old clearing agent John Edrah and Uber driver Taofiq Ajibola, 54, in Lagos. In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, at Chanchanji village, Wukari Local Government Area, on October 9, with 166,200 tablets of Tramadol, 225mg, weighing 107 kilogrammes.
The agency's operations also led to the recovery of firearms and ammunition during a raid on the residence of Christian Chukwudi Uju, 45, at Rukuba Road, Jos, Plateau State, on October 8. The 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. Beyond the arrests and seizures, the agency said its commands and formations continued public enlightenment activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
Key points
- The NDLEA arrested an 83-year-old woman for alleged drug trafficking and seized large consignments of illicit drugs across several states in Nigeria.
- The agency also recovered firearms and ammunition during a raid in Plateau State.
- The NDLEA's operations were part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
