The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 83-year-old woman previously convicted of drug offences and a South African national, while intercepting large consignments of illicit drugs across several states between October 4 and 9, 2026.
The 83-year-old suspect, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, was arrested at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, with methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, concealed around her waist.
The agency said she allegedly operated a drug joint frequented by criminal elements. In May 2025, she and her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, were arrested at the same residence with various illicit substances. Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, with the option of paying ₦200,000 fines each. They paid and were released.
At Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, with 32.74 kilogrammes of Thai Loud concealed in two travelling bags. She reportedly travelled from Thailand through Doha aboard Qatar Airways.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, officers intercepted 354,000 tapentadol tablets weighing 307.20 kilogrammes in a shipment from Pakistan. In another operation, they seized 75.90 kilogrammes of Colorado concealed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags in a shipment from the United Kingdom.
Several suspects were arrested in connection with the consignments, including a clearing agent, an Uber driver and two other men. Investigations reportedly identified UK-based individuals as the alleged senders.
In Cross River State, officers arrested Adama Inuwa, 46, at Iyala Nkun village, Ikom, recovering 1,100 kilogrammes of cannabis and 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted a Toyota Camry carrying 702.83 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis at Otuo, arresting three suspects. Another raid in Benin City yielded Loud, Colorado and methamphetamine.
Also in Ondo State, officers recovered 290 kilogrammes of cannabis from a hideout in Akure and another 351 kilogrammes from an apartment in Oba-Ile.
In northern Kaduna State, Mohammed Musa, 29, was arrested along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway with 1,027 kilogrammes of skunk. In Lagos, Musbau Balogun Adekunle was arrested with 85.16 kilogrammes of skunk and cannabis seeds.
In Taraba State, two suspects were arrested at Chanchanji village, Wukari, with 166,200 tramadol tablets weighing 107 kilogrammes. A separate operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road led to the recovery of 24,990 tramadol capsules, 50,000 diazepam tablets and 22,000 Exol-5 tablets.
In Plateau State, officers raided a residence on Rukuba Road, Jos, recovering methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, a locally made gun, 199 live cartridges and ammunition.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands continued public awareness activities under the War Against Drug Abuse campaign in schools and communities across several states.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers for the operations and urged them to sustain enforcement, prevention and public education efforts.
