The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for alleged drug trafficking, less than a year after she was convicted of a similar offence.
The agency also arrested a South African national, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, popularly known as Thai Loud, with 32.74 kilogrammes of cannabis at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.
The arrests formed part of a series of operations across several states, which led to the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, Colorado, cannabis, Tramadol, Diazepam and 354,000 Tapentadol tablets. Firearms and ammunition were also recovered during a raid in Plateau State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives arrested Uloma on Wednesday, October 7, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.
The octogenarian was allegedly found with quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, concealed around her waist in a wrapper.
Babafemi said the arrest followed intelligence reports indicating that the suspect operated a notorious drug joint allegedly patronised by criminal elements terrorising the community.
Uloma was previously arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at the same residence. During the operation, NDLEA operatives recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of Tramadol.
Both women reportedly pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, with an option of a N200,000 fine each. They subsequently paid the fines and were released.
The agency said Uloma allegedly returned to drug trafficking after her release and established a drug joint where she accommodated individuals described as dangerous.
At the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State, operatives arrested Jessie, a South African national, with 30 parcels of cannabis weighing 32.74 kilogrammes.
The drugs were reportedly concealed in two travelling bags. According to the NDLEA, the suspect arrived from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight and allegedly confessed to trafficking illicit drugs through other African countries before expanding her operations to Port Harcourt.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working with other relevant agencies, intercepted 354,000 Tapentadol tablets, each weighing 250 milligrammes, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja.
The nine-carton consignment arrived from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight on September 29 and was placed under surveillance. A joint examination conducted on October 6 uncovered the tablets, which weighed 307.20 kilogrammes.
In a separate operation at the Lagos airport, operatives intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90 kilogrammes. The drugs were concealed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags within a consolidated cargo shipment from the United Kingdom.
The shipment arrived on September 29, leading to the arrest of a 54-year-old clearing agent, John Edrah, on September 30.
An Uber driver, Taofiq Ajibola, 54, was subsequently arrested while attempting to collect one of the bags at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi.
The agency also reported the arrest of Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, a clothing trader, who allegedly arrived to collect the remaining five bags.
Ajibola reportedly identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the sender of the drugs, while Dosunmu allegedly claimed that his consignments came from another UK-based individual identified as Yusuf.
In Cross River State, an operation conducted at Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on Sunday, October 4, resulted in the arrest of 46-year-old Adama Inuwa.
The suspect was allegedly found with 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilogrammes, alongside 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
The NDLEA said the operations formed part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and dismantle illicit drug distribution channels across the country.
The agency’s statement also listed Abia, Lagos, Rivers, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River and Ondo among the states where operatives recorded seizures of controlled substances, while firearms and ammunition were recovered during an operation in Plateau State.
