NDLEA ARREST 82-YEAR-OLD GRANDMA, OTHERS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 82-year-old grandma Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday and her daughter Chisom Uchechi for drug offences. Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday and her daughter were arrested on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village with different quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol and skunk. The grandmother confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son who started the business died two years ago. In a related development, NDLEA operatives also arrested another 80-year-old grandpa, identified as Ayuba Ashiru in another raid at a different part of the country. He was arrested on Wednesday May 14, 2025 at Barazana street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State, with a total of 2.3kilograms of skunk packaged in nylons and papers in retail sizes. Ayuba had previously been arrested and prosecuted by NDLEA for drug offences, for which he was convicted and served 10-year jail term between 2014 and 2024.  NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrests of the octogenarians in a statement, saying that they were among thirty-two suspects detained by the agency during recent raids by its operatives in different parts of the country. Femi Babafemi said the NDLEA also recovered opioids worth over N3.2billion at Apapa seaport in Lagos and the Onne seaport in Rivers State during the period under review. At the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state, he said a total of three million (3,000,000) pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg worth N2.1billion in street value were intercepted in one of the containers watch-listed by the Agency based on intelligence. "The seizure was made on Wednesday 14th May during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service and other security agencies." In like manner, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on Tuesday May 13, intercepted another watch-listed container declared to have new car parts and accessories from India. "During a joint examination with other security agencies, a total of 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1billion in street value were discovered concealed in the shipment." "In Kwara state, no fewer than 199,200 pills of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail on Friday 16th May following their arrest at Gegele area of Ilorin by NDLEA operatives who also raided Favour Lodge in the state capital where an HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef was arrested with 650grams of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis already measured in 149 cups, which he sells to other students. "At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) on Friday 16th May intercepted 250grams of cocaine concealed in female headgear going to Australia. "In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road on Thursday 15th May intercepted a Toyota Carina car marked AGL 945 BK conveying 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143kg while a suspect, Idris Kamal, 35, was arrested. Same day, operatives on patrol at Chachi junction along Kaduna road arrested Emmanuel Hassan, 26, with 14.3kg Loud. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Bello Aliyu (alias Liti), 39. "While a 60-year-old suspect, Welman Kengbo was nabbed by NDLEA officers with 594.8kg skunk at Karu area of Nasarawa state on Friday 16th May, another suspect Oyenuga Toheeb was arrested along Lekki/Epe expressway, Lagos on Thursday 15th May with 67.5kg of the same psychoactive substance. "In Taraba state, 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Shafiu Ismail, 22, when he was arrested on Thursday 15th May at Sabonlayin, Jalingo LGA, while Tijjani Mohammed, 35, was nabbed with 198kg skunk at Malamawa, Garki LGA, Jigawa state same day. "Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja - Kaduna highway on Friday 16th May intercepted a 29-year-old Ismail Isah with an AK 47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize. He will be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation."