NDLEA Rearrests 83-Year-Old Woman for Alleged Drug Trafficking, Arrests South African With 32.74kg Cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, in Abia State over alleged drug trafficking, barely a year after she was convicted of drug-related offences.

The agency also arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State, after allegedly discovering 32.74 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in her luggage.

The arrests formed part of a series of anti-drug operations conducted by the NDLEA across several states, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of suspected illicit substances and the arrest of multiple suspects.

83-Year-Old Woman Rearrested in Abia

According to a statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the elderly woman was arrested on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

The agency said her arrest followed intelligence suggesting that she was operating a drug joint allegedly frequented by criminal elements accused of terrorising the community.

The NDLEA recalled that Uloma was previously arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi.

During that operation, officers reportedly recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol.

The agency stated that both women pleaded guilty to the earlier charges and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦200,000 each. They reportedly paid the fines and were released.

The NDLEA alleged that the elderly woman subsequently returned to the illicit drug trade and expanded her activities.

The latest allegations will be subject to the applicable legal process.

South African Woman Arrested With 32.74kg of Cannabis

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service, arrested South African national Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.

According to the agency, officers discovered 30 parcels of a cannabis strain known as Thai Loud, weighing 32.74 kilogrammes, concealed in two travelling bags.

The NDLEA said the suspect had travelled from Thailand through Doha, Qatar, aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431.

The agency further alleged that she had previously trafficked drugs through other African countries and was seeking to expand the route to Port Harcourt when she was arrested.

354,000 Opioid Tablets Intercepted in Lagos

The NDLEA also reported a major seizure at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where operatives intercepted 354,000 tablets of tapentadol, each weighing 250 milligrammes.

The consignment, weighing 307.20 kilogrammes, was reportedly imported from Pakistan and arrived aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight on September 29, 2026.

According to the agency, the shipment was placed under surveillance before a joint examination on October 6 uncovered the tablets concealed in nine cartons.

In another operation at the Lagos airport, officers intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, weighing 75.90 kilogrammes. The substances were reportedly concealed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags within a consolidated cargo shipment from the United Kingdom.

Four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure. They included a clearing agent, John Edrah, 54; an Uber driver, Taofiq Ajibola, 54; Adetunji Adebayo; and a clothing trader, Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48.

The agency said some of the suspects identified individuals based in the United Kingdom as the alleged senders of the consignments.

More Drug Seizures Across Several States

The NDLEA reported additional arrests and seizures in different parts of the country.

In Cross River State, operatives reportedly arrested 46-year-old Adama Inuwa in Iyala Nkun village, Ikom Local Government Area, recovering 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilogrammes and 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.

In Edo State, three suspects were arrested after officers intercepted a Toyota Camry allegedly conveying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83 kilogrammes at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area.

Another suspect was arrested in Benin City with quantities of Loud, Colorado and methamphetamine.

In Ondo State, officers reportedly arrested two suspects in separate operations in Akure, recovering cannabis consignments weighing 290 kilogrammes and 351 kilogrammes respectively.

In Taraba State, two men were arrested in Chanchanji village, Wukari Local Government Area, with 166,200 tablets of tramadol weighing 107 kilogrammes.

A separate operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road resulted in the arrest of a suspect allegedly carrying 24,990 capsules of tramadol, 50,000 tablets of diazepam and 22,000 tablets of Exol-5.

In Kaduna State, officers arrested a suspect along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway and reportedly recovered 1,027 kilogrammes of skunk.

Another suspect was arrested in the Orile area of Lagos with 32.51 kilogrammes of skunk and 52.65 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.

Firearms and Ammunition Recovered in Plateau

The agency also reported recovering firearms and ammunition during a raid at the residence of Christian Chukwudi Uju, 45, on Rukuba Road in Jos, Plateau State.

The operation, conducted on October 8, reportedly yielded 47 grammes 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.

The NDLEA said its nationwide operations were accompanied by public awareness campaigns against drug abuse in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.

NDLEA Chairman Commends Officers

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for what the agency described as professional and intelligence-driven enforcement.

He urged personnel to sustain their efforts in tackling drug trafficking and related criminal activities.

The latest operations highlight the continuing challenge posed by the movement of illicit drugs through residential areas, road networks, airports and international cargo channels.

While the arrests and seizures represent enforcement actions, investigations and legal proceedings remain necessary to establish individual responsibility in cases involving allegations of drug trafficking.

Akahi News will continue to monitor developments and report verified updates on the NDLEA’s activities and related court proceedings.