The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Mrs Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for alleged drug trafficking in Abia State, less than a year after she was convicted for a similar offence.
The arrest was disclosed by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Abuja, in a statement dated October 11, 2026.
According to the agency, NDLEA operatives arrested Uchechi at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, on Wednesday, October 7, following intelligence reports alleging that she operated a drug joint frequented by criminal elements.
The agency said quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, were allegedly found concealed around her waist with a wrapper.
Uchechi was previously arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at their residence in the same community. The agency said 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol were recovered during the operation.
According to the statement, both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. They paid the fines and were released by the court.
In a separate operation at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service, arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, over the alleged importation of 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a cannabis variety, weighing 32.74 kilogrammes.
The agency said the substance was concealed in two travelling bags. The suspect had reportedly travelled from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight, QR1431.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, operatives also intercepted 354,000 tablets of tapentadol, 250mg, weighing 307.20 kilogrammes, in nine cartons shipped from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight.
The shipment arrived on September 29 and was placed under surveillance before a joint examination on October 6 uncovered the tablets.
In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90 kilogrammes in six Ghana-Must-Go bags contained in a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom.
The agency said a clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, was arrested on September 30, followed by Taofiq Ajibola, 54, an Uber driver, who was allegedly caught collecting one of the bags at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi.
Two other suspects, Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, a clothing trader, were also arrested in connection with the remaining bags.
The statement said Ajibola identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the sender of the drugs, while Dosunmu claimed his consignment came from another UK-based individual identified as Yusuf.
In Cross River State, NDLEA operatives arrested Adama Inuwa, 46, at Iyang Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on October 4. The agency said 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilogrammes and 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds were recovered during the operation.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5, allegedly conveying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83 kilogrammes.
Three suspects Monday Orji, 52, Monday Lawal, 40, and Precious Uduegele, 20 were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In a separate raid at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, Benin City, another suspect, Ojugo Mercy, 26, was arrested with substances identified by the agency as 989 grammes of Loud, 13 grammes of Colorado and 83 grammes of methamphetamine.
