NDLEA Nabs Octogenarians, Student, Others, Seizes N3.2bn Drugs Across Nigeria
In a sweeping nationwide crackdown, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a string of drug suspects, including an 80-year-old ex-convict and an 82-year-old grandmother.
The agency also intercepting opioids and cannabis products valued at over N3.2 billion at major ports and cities across Nigeria.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the agency recorded several major operations within one week.
The seizures include over 3 million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Rivers State and nearly 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup at Apapa seaport in Lagos.
One of the more shocking arrests was that of Ayuba Ashiru, an 80-year-old former convict who recently completed a 10-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.
He was caught again in Kaduna with over two kilograms of cannabis, popularly known as skunk. Ashiru allegedly confessed to being involved in the illicit trade for 46 years.
In another disturbing case, NDLEA officers in Abia State arrested 82-year-old Uloma Uchechi Sunday and her daughter, 32-year-old Chisom Uchechi, at their home in Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village. Officers recovered methamphetamine, tramadol, cannabis, and N130,600 in cash.
The elderly woman reportedly admitted that they took over the drug business after her son’s death two years ago.
At a courier firm in Lagos, NDLEA intercepted 250 grams of cocaine concealed in female headgear en route to Australia.
In Ilorin, Kwara State, a student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, was arrested with 650 grams of “loud” cannabis already packaged in 149 cups for sale. Two other suspects were also caught with over 199,000 pills of tramadol.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives seized 143kg of skunk from a Toyota Carina vehicle along Mokwa-Jebba road, arresting a 35-year-old suspect. Further operations led to the arrest of the consignment’s alleged owner, Bello Aliyu, aged 39.
Similar operations across Nasarawa, Lagos, Taraba, and Jigawa States led to additional arrests and seizures of hundreds of kilograms of skunk, tramadol, and diazepam.
In a separate incident, officers patrolling the Abuja-Kaduna highway intercepted a 29-year-old man with an AK-47 rifle and two loaded magazines hidden in a sack of maize.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved in the various operations.
“The efforts of our officers across all commands show that we are winning the war against illicit drugs. It is clear that no one is beyond the reach of the law — not by age, gender, or background,” he said.
Marwa also noted the agency’s continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy across schools in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Osun, and Rivers States.
“Our balanced focus on cutting both supply and demand for drugs is yielding results. We will not relent,” he added.
The NDLEA’s recent operations underscore the depth of Nigeria’s drug trafficking crisis and the widening profile of those involved — from aged grandparents to students — as the agency intensifies its nationwide clampdown.
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