The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, with consignments of methamphetamine and Colorado, barely a year after she was convicted for drug-related offences. According to NDLEA spokesperson, 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 allegedly found with quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado tied around her waist with a wrapper.
Uloma's arrest followed intelligence reports indicating that she operated a notorious drug joint where criminal elements allegedly gathered and terrorised residents of the community. The octogenarian was first arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at the same residence. The NDLEA said the operatives recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol from them.
Both women reportedly pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a N200,000 fine each. They paid the fines and were released. However, the agency alleged that Uloma returned to the illicit drug trade after her release and subsequently established a drug joint. This led to her rearrest and ongoing investigation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives, working with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, with 30 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 32.74kg at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State. The cannabis was allegedly concealed in two travelling bags. The suspect reportedly arrived from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight, QR1431.
According to the statement, Jessie confessed to previously trafficking drugs through other African countries and said she was expanding her routes to Port Harcourt when she was arrested. The NDLEA is investigating her claims and exploring possible connections to other drug trafficking networks.
The NDLEA also intercepted several other consignments of illicit drugs across the country. At the Import Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, operatives intercepted nine cartons of pharmaceutical products shipped from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight. A joint examination conducted on Tuesday, October 6, uncovered 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg weighing 307.20kg.
Additionally, the agency intercepted a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom containing 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90kg at the Lagos airport. Several suspects, including a clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, an Uber driver, Taofiq Ajibola, 54, and two others, Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, were arrested in connection with the seizure. The NDLEA continues to investigate the seized drugs and the suspects' involvement in the illicit trade.
Key points
- The NDLEA arrested an 83-year-old woman for drug trafficking, barely a year after her release from prison.
- A South African woman was arrested with 32.74kg of cannabis at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
- The NDLEA intercepted several consignments of illicit drugs across Nigeria, including pharmaceutical products and Colorado.
