The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for alleged drug trafficking in Abia State, less than a year after she was convicted of drug-related offences.
The suspect was arrested on October 7, 2026, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of the state, following intelligence reports. According to the agency, substances suspected to be methamphetamine and Colorado were allegedly found concealed around her waist with a wrapper.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, October 11, alleging that the woman operated a drug joint that attracted individuals suspected of engaging in criminal activities within the community.
The agency said Uloma was previously arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi. During that operation, officers reportedly recovered methamphetamine, cannabis, fresh cannabis leaves and tramadol from their residence.
According to the NDLEA, both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or an alternative fine of ₦200,000 each. They reportedly paid the fines and were released.
The agency alleged that the elderly woman subsequently returned to the illicit drug trade and established a drug joint at her residence.
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NDLEA Records Major Drug Seizures Across States
In separate operations, the agency reported several arrests and drug seizures across the country.
At Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State, operatives arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, with 30 parcels of cannabis, commonly known as Thai Loud, weighing 32.74 kilogrammes. The drugs were reportedly concealed in two travelling bags.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, officers intercepted 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol, weighing 307.20 kilogrammes, in a shipment from Pakistan. Another operation led to the seizure of 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90 kilogrammes, allegedly imported from the United Kingdom.
The agency also reported significant cannabis seizures in Cross River, Edo, Ondo, Kaduna and Lagos states, alongside the interception of thousands of tramadol and other controlled drug tablets in Taraba and Kano states.
In Plateau State, a raid on a residence in Jos reportedly led to the recovery of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, a locally made firearm and ammunition.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain their intelligence-led approach to combating drug trafficking and substance abuse.
The agency reiterated its commitment to disrupting drug supply networks and strengthening public awareness about the dangers of illicit drugs.
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