The octogenarian was arrested on Wednesday, October 7, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. According to the NDLEA, quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado were found tied around her waist with a wrapper.
Her arrest followed intelligence reports alleging that she operated a notorious drug joint that provided shelter for criminal elements terrorising the community.
In a statement, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said Sunday’s first encounter with law enforcement occurred on May 17, 2025, when she was arrested alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at their residence in the same community.
The agency said the operatives recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol from the suspects.
Both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. They paid the fines and were subsequently released.
Babafemi alleged that the elderly woman returned to the drug trade after her release and expanded her activities by establishing a drug joint where she allegedly accommodated dangerous individuals.
83-year-old convicted grandma, South African lady arrested with Colos, Meth shipmentsustoms Service, have arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State, over the alleged importation of 32.74 kilogrammes of cannabis.
The agency said 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a cannabis strain, were discovered concealed in two travel bags. The suspect reportedly arrived from Thailand via Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431.
According to Babafemi, the woman confessed to previously trafficking drugs through other African countries and said she was expanding her route to Port Harcourt when she was apprehended.
In a separate operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom that arrived on September 29. A search revealed 70 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid weighing 75.90 kilogrammes, concealed in six Ghana-Must-Go bags.
A 54-year-old clearing agent, John Edrah, was arrested on September 30 in connection with the shipment.
Subsequently, Taofiq Ajibola, 54, an Uber driver, was arrested while attempting to collect one of the bags at a logistics company in the Mafoluku area of Oshodi. Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, a clothing trader, were also arrested after allegedly arriving to collect the remaining five bags.
The NDLEA said Ajibola identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the person who sent his consignment, while Dosunmu reportedly said his shipment came from another UK-based individual identified as Yusuf.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives raided Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State on Sunday, October 4, leading to the arrest of 46-year-old Adama Inuwa.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 181 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,100 kilogrammes, alongside 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
