NDLEA Arrests 101-Year-Old Great-Grandma Over Alleged Cannabis Dealing

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother for allegedly dealing in cannabis in Ogun State, as operatives uncovered fresh consignments of illicit drugs across several parts of the country.

The centenarian, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, was arrested on Saturday, August 15, at Ilisan, Ogun State, with 90 grammes of skunk packaged in small sachets.

According to the agency, Ogunmabo admitted selling the substance to residents in the community, claiming that she turned to the trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.

The NDLEA said the elderly woman told investigators that one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied her with cannabis every four days for distribution in small quantities.

However, the agency said its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd.), directed that the 101-year-old suspect be granted bail and subjected to counselling in view of her advanced age.

Her daughter was subsequently arrested in connection with the case.

The arrest formed part of a wider series of operations by NDLEA operatives across states and the Federal Capital Territory, during which large quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine, diazepam and other controlled substances were recovered.

In Akwa Ibom State, operatives intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas on Friday, August 21, allegedly transporting illicit drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon.

Three suspects aboard the vessel, which was reportedly heading towards Ine Isu, Ine Mbah and Ine Ikot Itie Udung fishing ports in Cameroon, were arrested.

They were identified as Etima Effiong Ekpo, 29; Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33; and Kingsley Effiong John, 27.

The agency said Ekpo was found with 1.120kg of skunk, while Etukudoh had 42.060kg of the substance.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said John was allegedly found with 20 grammes of cocaine concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava flour, popularly known as fufu.

John was also found with 435 grammes of skunk, bringing the total quantity of illicit drugs recovered from the three suspects to 42.622kg.

Meanwhile, the agency said it had recorded its first seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime corridor following the interception of two containers of cannabis indica, popularly known as Loud, at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos.

The consignments, loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, were valued at more than N4.4 billion in street value.

The NDLEA said the seizure pointed to an emerging trafficking route being exploited by international drug syndicates to move illicit substances into Nigeria.

The agency said the latest interceptions underscored the scale and changing nature of illicit drug trafficking in the country, with traffickers deploying different concealment methods and maritime routes to evade detection.