The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 83-year-old woman in Abia State for alleged drug trafficking, less than a year after she was convicted of a similar offence. The agency also apprehended a South African national at Port Harcourt International Airport over a cannabis shipment.
The arrests formed part of a series of anti-drug operations across several states, including Lagos, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River and Ondo. In Plateau State, officers also recovered illicit drugs, firearms and ammunition during a separate operation.
According to the NDLEA, the elderly suspect, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, was arrested on October 7, 2026, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. Officers reportedly found quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, concealed around her waist with a wrapper.
Sunday had previously been arrested alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, on May 17, 2025. During that operation, officers recovered methamphetamine, cannabis, fresh cannabis leaves and tramadol. Both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months in prison or a fine of ₦200,000 each. They paid the fines and were released.
In a separate operation at Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State, NDLEA operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service arrested South African national Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie. She was allegedly carrying 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a cannabis strain weighing 32.74 kilogrammes, concealed in two travel bags.
The suspect reportedly arrived from Thailand through Doha on a Qatar Airways flight. According to the agency, she admitted to previously trafficking drugs through other African countries.
Major Drug Shipments Intercepted in Lagos
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted nine cartons shipped from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight. Following surveillance of the consignment, a joint examination conducted on October 6 uncovered 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 307.20 kilogrammes.
Another operation at the Lagos airport led to the seizure of 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90 kilogrammes. The drugs were reportedly concealed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags inside a consolidated shipment from the United Kingdom.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of several suspects, including a clearing agent, John Edrah, 54; Uber driver Taofiq Ajibola, 54; and two other men identified as Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48.
The NDLEA said Ajibola claimed the shipment was sent by an associate based in the UK, while Dosunmu reportedly identified another UK-based individual as the source of his consignment.
Cannabis Seizures Across Multiple States
In Cross River State, operatives raided Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on October 4, arresting 46-year-old Adama Inuwa. Officers recovered 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilogrammes, alongside 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, a Toyota Camry intercepted at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, was found carrying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83 kilogrammes. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.
A separate operation in Benin City led to the arrest of 26-year-old Ojugo Mercy, from whom officers reportedly recovered Loud, Colorado and methamphetamine.
In Ondo State, operatives arrested 21-year-old Happy Endurance at a hideout in the Shasha area of Akure, recovering 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290 kilogrammes. Another suspect, 42-year-old Tunde Adebayo, was arrested during a raid in Oba-Ile, Akure, where 35 bags weighing 351 kilogrammes were seized.
In Kaduna State, officers intercepted Mohammed Musa, 29, along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway. The operation led to the recovery of cannabis in jumbo bags and compressed blocks, with a combined weight of 1,027 kilogrammes.
Meanwhile, in Orile, Lagos, a suspect identified as Musbau Balogun Adekunle was arrested on October 6. Officers reportedly seized 32.51 kilogrammes of cannabis and 52.65 kilogrammes of its seeds.
On the same day, a separate raid at an apartment in Oba-Ile, Akure, led to the arrest of 42-year-old Tunde Adebayo. Officers reportedly seized 35 bags of cannabis weighing 351kg.
Tramadol, Diazepam Seized in Taraba and Kano
In Taraba State, NDLEA officers, supported by soldiers, arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, in Chanchanji village, Wukari Local Government Area, on Friday, October 9.
The suspects were allegedly found with 166,200 tablets of tramadol, each containing 225mg, weighing a combined 107kg.
A separate stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road in Kano State on the same day resulted in the arrest of 32-year-old Yahaya Musa.
The agency said officers recovered 24,990 capsules of tramadol, 50,000 tablets of diazepam and 22,000 tablets of Exol-5 from him.
Over One Tonne of Cannabis Recovered in Kaduna
Along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway, NDLEA operatives arrested 29-year-old Mohammed Musa during a patrol.
The suspect was allegedly transporting 31 jumbo bags and 775 blocks of skunk, with the combined quantity weighing 1,027kg.
In another operation in Orile, Lagos, officers arrested Musbau Balogun Adekunle on Tuesday, October 6. The seizure included 32.51kg of skunk and 52.65kg of cannabis seeds, bringingthe total weight to 85.16kg.
NDLEA Recovers Rifles and Ammunition in Plateau
A raid on the residence of 45-year-old Christian Chukwudi Uju along Rukuba Road in Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, October 8, resulted in the recovery of suspected illicit drugs, firearms and ammunition.
The agency listed the items recovered as 47 grammes of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, one locally made firearm, 199 live cartridges, five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and one round of 9mm ammunition.
Agency Intensifies Drug Abuse Awareness Campaigns
Beyond its enforcement operations, the NDLEA said its commands and formations continued public education activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The sensitisation exercises reached students and staff at Progressive Grammar School in Tede, Oyo State; Ehugbo Technical College in Afikpo, Ebonyi State; Baptist High School in Lambata, Niger State; Madarasatul Tarbiyatul Islamiya in Galangalan Tudun Wada, Kano State; Ipara Senior and Junior Community Secondary School in Badagry, Lagos State; and Manbahu Ridwanullah Nursery and Primary School in Olomore, Abeokuta, Ogun State, among other institutions and communities.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the Lagos, MMIA, PHIA, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo and Plateau commands for their intelligence-led efforts.
He urged personnel across the country to sustain their enforcement activities while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to tackling drug-related offences.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday, October 11, 2026
