The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ([NDLEA](https://ndlea.gov.ng)) detained an 83‑year‑old resident of Ite‑Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa LGA, Abia State on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, after agents discovered parcels of methamphetamine and Colorado wrapped around her waist. The woman, identified as Mrs Uloma Uchechi Sunday, was taken into custody following credible intelligence that she was operating a drug joint frequented by criminal elements terrorising the local community.
Key details from the operation include:
- The seizure took place at the suspect’s home on 7 October 2026.
- Quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado were found tied to her waist.
- The arrest follows a prior conviction on 17 May 2025 for a similar offence at the same address.
- During the 2025 raid, authorities recovered 50 g of methamphetamine, 522 g of skunk, 260 g of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 g of tramadol.
- Both Uloma and her 32‑year‑old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, pleaded guilty and were fined N200,000 each, after which they were released.
**What prompted the renewed arrest?**
NDLEA officials said the 83‑year‑old “notoriously returned to the criminal trade” and expanded her operation by hosting dangerous individuals at the drug joint. The agency’s statement described her as “undeterred” and highlighted the escalation in the scale of the illicit activity.
**Other major seizures reported this week**
- At Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, NDLEA officers working with the Nigeria Customs Service apprehended a South African national, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, who was carrying 30 parcels of Thai Loud cannabis weighing 32.74 kg, concealed in two travel bags. She arrived from Thailand via Doha on Qatar Airways flight QR1431 and admitted to previous trafficking through other African nations.
- At the Import Shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, a joint inspection of a cargo from Pakistan that landed on 29 September uncovered 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250 mg (totaling 307.20 kg).
- A separate Lagos airport operation intercepted a consignment from the United Kingdom, revealing 70 parcels of Colorado (a synthetic cannabinoid) weighing 75.90 kg hidden in six Ghana‑Must‑Go bags. Clearing agent John Edrah (54) was the first arrest on 30 September, followed by Uber driver Taofiq Ajibola (54) and clothing trader Kazeem Damola Dosunmu (48) as they attempted to collect the remaining bags. Ajibola claimed the drugs were sent by a UK‑based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, while Dosunmu identified another UK contact, Yusuf.
- In Cross River State, NDLEA raided Iyala Nkun village, Ikom LGA, on 4 October, arresting Adama Inuwa (46) with 181 bags of cannabis sativa (1,100 kg) and 17.15 kg of cannabis seeds.
- In Edo State, a black Toyota Camry was stopped at Otuo, Owan East LGA on 5 October, leading to the seizure of 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis (702.83 kg) and the arrest of Monday Orji (52), Monday Lawal (40) and Precious Uduegele (20).
- A raid in Asoro, Benin City, resulted in the capture of Ojugo Mercy (26) with 989 g of Loud, 13 g of Colorado and 83 g of methamphetamine.
- In Ondo State, 21‑year‑old Happy Endurance was tracked to a hideout in Akure’s Shasha area on 5 October, where 29 bags of cannabis (290 kg) were recovered. Later that day, Tunde Adebayo (42) was arrested at an Akure apartment with 35 bags of the same substance (351 kg).
- In Taraba State, soldiers assisted NDLEA in arresting Abdulrasheed Mohamed (31) and Abubakar Saidu (37) at Chanchanji village, Wukari LGA on 9 October, seizing 166,200 tablets of Tramadol 225 mg (107 kg).
- A stop‑and‑search on the Kano‑Maiduguri road on the same day led to the detention of Yahaya Musa (32) with 24,990 Tramadol capsules, 50,000 Diazepam tablets and 22,000 Exol‑5 tablets.
- On the Zaria‑Kaduna Expressway, Mohammed Musa (29) was caught with 31 jumbo bags of skunk and 775 blocks of the same drug, totaling 1,027 kg.
- In Lagos, Musbau Balogun Adekunle was arrested in Orile on 6 October with 32.51 kg of skunk and 52.65 kg of its seeds (combined weight 85.16 kg).
- A separate operation in Jos, Plateau State, on 8 October recovered firearms and ammunition from the home of Christian Chukwudi Uju (45), including 47 g of methamphetamine, two pump‑action rifles, a locally made gun, 199 live cartridges, five rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and one round of 9 mm ammunition.
These coordinated actions illustrate NDLEA’s intensified effort to dismantle drug networks and seize large quantities of illicit substances across the federation.