NDLEA arrests 83-year-old grandma with meth, colorado, nabs South African with 32kg cannabis

Two Women Sentenced for Drug Trafficking; One Arrested Again

Two women have been sentenced to 12 months in prison for drug trafficking or the alternative of paying a fine of 200,000 Naira each. Following their release after paying the fines, one of the women, identified as Uloma, allegedly resumed involvement in the drug trade and established a drug distribution network.

In a separate investigation, agents from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, apprehended South African national Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie at Port Harcourt International Airport. Jessie arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Thailand, allegedly carrying 30 parcels of a cannabis strain known as Thai Loud, weighing a total of 32.74 kilograms. The drugs were reportedly concealed within two travel bags. During interrogation, she admitted to having trafficked drugs through other African nations and indicated plans to expand her operations to Port Harcourt.

At Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA officials intercepted a shipment containing nine cartons of pharmaceutical products from Pakistan, which arrived on September 29 aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight. A thorough examination yielded the discovery of 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol, weighing 307.20 kilograms.

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives seized 70 parcels of Colorado, with a total weight of 75.90 kilograms, from a consolidated cargo originating in the United Kingdom. The drugs were concealed in six “Ghana-Must-Go” bags, leading to the arrest of 54-year-old clearing agent John Edrah on September 30. Uber driver Taofiq Ajibola, also 54, was detained while attempting to collect one of the bags. Two additional suspects, Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, were later arrested while attempting to pick up the remaining parcels. Both Ajibola and Dosunmu claimed their consignments were sent by associates based in the UK.

In Cross River State, NDLEA operatives on October 4 arrested Adama Inuwa, 46, in Iyala Nkun village and confiscated 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilograms, alongside 17.15 kilograms of cannabis seeds.

Additionally, in Edo State, authorities intercepted a Toyota Camry containing 1,049 blocks of cannabis weighing 702.83 kilograms on October 5. Three suspects—Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20—were arrested in connection with this seizure.

In another operation in Edo, 26-year-old Ojugo Mercy was arrested at Asoro, Benin City, with 989 grams of Loud, 13 grams of Colorado, and 83 grams of methamphetamine.

In Ondo State, a 21-year-old suspect, Happy Endurance, was captured on October 5 with 290 kilograms of cannabis after a surveillance operation. That same day, Tunde Adebayo, 42, was arrested in a separate raid with 351 kilograms of cannabis.

In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives, assisted by military personnel, apprehended Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, at Chanchanji village with 166,200 tablets of Tramadol weighing 107 kilograms.

Further north, on October 9, a stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road led to the arrest of 32-year-old Yahaya Musa, who was found with nearly 25,000 capsules of tramadol and other controlled substances.

In Kaduna State, NDLEA patrols on the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway resulted in the arrest of 29-year-old Mohammed Musa, discovered in possession of over 1,000 kilograms of skunk.

In Lagos State, Musbau Balogun Adekunle was arrested with 85.16 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds during an operation on October 6.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives raided the home of Christian Chukwudi Uju, 45, on October 8, recovering methamphetamine, firearms, and ammunition.

The NDLEA also conducted a War Against Drug Abuse sensitization campaign across various educational and community centers during the week, including institutions in Oyo, Ebonyi, Niger, Kano, Lagos, and Ogun states.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), chairman and CEO of the NDLEA, commended the efforts of operatives in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo, and Plateau commands, urging them to continue their vital work in drug control.

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