The latest NDLEA drug trafficking arrests have resulted in the re-arrest of an 83-year-old woman in Abia State and the detention of a South African national allegedly carrying 32.74kg of cannabis at Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the operations as part of a wider crackdown that also uncovered large quantities of suspected illicit substances across several states and led to the recovery of firearms and ammunition in Plateau State.
The arrests highlight the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt drug distribution networks, intercept international shipments and tackle the circulation of controlled substances within Nigerian communities. According to the agency, officers carried out the operations through intelligence-led investigations, airport surveillance and targeted raids.
NDLEA Re-arrests 83-Year-Old Woman in Abia State
The NDLEA re-arrested Uloma Uchechi Sunday at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, on October 7, 2026, after receiving intelligence linking her to an alleged drug distribution point in the community.
The agency said operatives recovered quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, which were allegedly concealed around her waist with a wrapper. Investigators also received reports that her residence housed a drug joint where criminal elements allegedly gathered and terrorised residents.
Sunday had previously faced prosecution over drug-related offences in May 2025, when officers arrested her alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi. During that operation, the NDLEA reportedly recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol.
Both women pleaded guilty and received 12-month prison sentences or fines of ₦200,000 each. They paid the fines and were released, according to the agency.
Her latest arrest has renewed attention on the challenges authorities face in preventing convicted drug offenders from returning to the trade. However, the allegations surrounding the new case will require the appropriate legal process.
In a separate operation at Port Harcourt International Airport, NDLEA officers working with the Nigeria Customs Service arrested South African national Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie over an alleged cannabis shipment weighing 32.74kg.
The agency said officers discovered 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a cannabis strain, concealed inside two travelling bags. Jessie reportedly arrived from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight and allegedly admitted to trafficking drugs through other African countries.
Drug Seizures Extend to Lagos and Other States
Beyond the two major arrests, the NDLEA reported several interceptions involving suspected illicit drugs at airports and across different parts of the country, indicating the scale of the enforcement operations.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, officers intercepted nine cartons containing 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol, each reportedly containing 250mg. The shipment weighed approximately 307.2kg and originated from Pakistan.
Operatives also recovered 75.9kg of Colorado from six Ghana-Must-Go bags in a consignment shipped from the United Kingdom. Four suspects, including a clearing agent, an Uber driver and a clothing trader, were arrested in connection with the shipment.
In Cross River State, officers seized 1,100kg of cannabis packed in 181 bags and 17.15kg of cannabis seeds during an operation in Ikom. Edo State operations led to the interception of 702.83kg of cannabis and the arrest of three suspects, while separate raids in Ondo State resulted in the recovery of 641kg of cannabis.
The agency also reported the seizure of 166,200 tramadol tablets in Taraba State and the recovery of tramadol, diazepam and Exol-5 tablets during an operation in Kano. In Kaduna, officers intercepted 1,027kg of skunk along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway. Another operation in Lagos led to the recovery of 85.16kg of skunk and cannabis seeds.
Meanwhile, a raid in Jos, Plateau State, resulted in the recovery of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, a locally made firearm, 199 live cartridges and six additional rounds of ammunition.
The NDLEA said its operations would continue as it works to disrupt drug trafficking and limit the supply of illicit substances nationwide. The reported NDLEA drug trafficking arrests and seizures also underline the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation between enforcement agencies in tackling cross-border smuggling and domestic distribution.
