Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency has arrested an 83-year-old woman for alleged drug trafficking, detained a South African woman with 32.74kg of cannabis and seized large drug consignments across several states.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a statement by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday, said operatives arrested Uloma Uchechi Sunday at her home in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Officers found methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis product, tied around her waist with a wrapper.
NDLEA Arrests Repeat Offender
However, the arrest came less than a year after a court convicted Uloma and her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, 32, for drug offences.
NDLEA operatives first arrested them on May 17, 2025, with 50g of methamphetamine, 522g of skunk, 260g of fresh cannabis leaves and 12g of tramadol. Both pleaded guilty and received 12-month prison sentences or a N200,000 fine each. They paid the fines and secured their release.
Meanwhile, the agency said fresh intelligence linked Uloma to a drug joint that allegedly sheltered criminals who terrorised the community.
South African Woman Held With 32.74kg of Cannabis
At Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State, NDLEA operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service arrested South African national Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie.
Officers found 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a cannabis strain weighing 32.74kg, inside two travel bags. The suspect had travelled from Thailand through Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431.
Furthermore, the agency said Jessie admitted to trafficking drugs through other African countries before attempting to expand her route to Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Seizes Meth, Colorado at Lagos Airport
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted nine cartons of drugs shipped from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight.
Officers placed the consignment under surveillance after its arrival on September 29. A joint examination on October 6 uncovered 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg weighing 307.20kg.
In a separate operation, officers intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90kg in six Ghana-Must-Go bags inside a consolidated shipment from the United Kingdom.
The cargo arrived on September 29.
The agency arrested clearing agent John Edrah, 54, on September 30. Officers later arrested Uber driver Taofiq Ajibola, 54, while he collected one bag at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi.
They also arrested Adetunji Adebayo and clothing trader Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, who came to collect the remaining five bags.
Ajibola allegedly identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the sender of his consignment. Dosunmu said another UK-based man, identified as Yusuf, sent his own shipment.
Major Cannabis Seizures Across States
Meanwhile, an NDLEA operation in Iyala Nkun village, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, led to the arrest of Adama Inuwa, 46, on Sunday, October 4.
Officers recovered 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100kg and 17.15kg of cannabis seeds during the operation.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5. The vehicle carried 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83kg.
Officers arrested Monday Orji, 52, Monday Lawal, 40, and Precious Uduegele, 20, in connection with the seizure.
Also, NDLEA officers arrested Ojugo Mercy, 26, at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, Benin City, with 989g of Loud, 13g of Colorado and 83g of methamphetamine.
In Ondo State, operatives tracked 21-year-old Happy Endurance to a hideout in the Shasha area of Akure on October 5. They recovered 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290kg.
The same day, officers raided an apartment in Oba-Ile, Akure, and arrested Tunde Adebayo, 42, with 35 bags of cannabis weighing 351kg.
Tramadol, Diazepam Seized in Taraba, Kano
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives backed by soldiers arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, at Chanchanji village in Wukari Local Government Area on Friday, October 9.
The officers recovered 166,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 107kg.
Meanwhile, a stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri road on October 9 led to the arrest of Yahaya Musa, 32. Officers seized 24,990 capsules of tramadol, 50,000 tablets of Diazepam and 22,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives patrolling the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway arrested Mohammed Musa, 29, with 31 jumbo bags of skunk and 775 blocks of the same substance. The combined weight stood at 1,027kg.
Similarly, officers arrested Musbau Balogun Adekunle in Orile, Lagos, on October 6. They recovered 32.51kg of skunk and 52.65kg of cannabis seeds, bringing the total to 85.16kg.
NDLEA Recovers Rifles, Ammunition in Plateau
Furthermore, NDLEA operatives recovered illicit drugs, rifles and ammunition during a raid on the residence of Christian Chukwudi Uju, 45, on Rukuba Road, Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, October 8.
The agency said officers seized 47g 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.
NDLEA Steps Up Anti-Drug Campaign
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign in schools, places of worship, workplaces and communities during the week.
The outreach covered 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, among others.
In response to the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised officers in Lagos, MMIA, PHIA, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo and Plateau for their professionalism and intelligence-led work.
He urged officers nationwide to maintain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
External Links
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Nigeria Customs Service
