NDLEA arrests octogenarians, seizes N3.2 billion worth of illicit drugs in nationwide crackdown

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly individuals—80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old Uloma Uchechi—along with Uchechi’s 32-year-old daughter, Chisom, in a nationwide operation targeting drug traffickers. The crackdown also led to the seizure of opioids and other narcotics valued at over N3.2 billion at major ports and other locations across the country.

Ayuba Ashiru, who previously served a 10-year sentence for drug-related crimes from 2014 to 2024, was rearrested last Wednesday in the Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari, Kaduna State. NDLEA officers, acting on intelligence, found 2.3 kilograms of cannabis (skunk) packaged for street sale in his possession. Ashiru confessed to having been involved in the drug trade for 46 years.

In a separate operation in Abia State, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of Uloma Uchechi in Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village. There, they recovered quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, skunk, and N130,600 in cash from Uchechi and her daughter. The 82-year-old confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug business following the death of her son two years ago.

Meanwhile, major drug interceptions occurred at Nigeria’s key seaports. At the Port Harcourt Port in Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA seized 3 million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol Royal 225mg, with a street value of N2.1 billion. The seizure was made during a joint inspection of a container flagged by intelligence sources.

Similarly, at Apapa Port in Lagos, 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a container declared as car parts were discovered. The illicit cargo, originating from India, has an estimated street value of over N1.1 billion.

In Kwara State, operatives arrested two men, Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail, with 199,200 tramadol pills in Ilorin. A raid on Favour Lodge led to the arrest of a student, Ibrahim Abdulateef, in possession of 650 grams of cannabis strain “Loud,” portioned into 149 cups for sale.

At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA intercepted 250 grams of cocaine hidden inside a female headgear bound for Australia. In Niger State, officers arrested Idris Kamal transporting 316 blocks of skunk (143kg) along the Mokwa-Jebba road. Another suspect, Emmanuel Hassan, was caught with 14.3kg of Loud, leading to the arrest of its owner, Bello Aliyu.

Further seizures included:

• Nasarawa State: Welman Kengbo, 60, arrested with 594.8kg of skunk.
• Lagos: Oyenuga Toheeb caught with 67.5kg of cannabis on Lekki-Epe expressway.
• Taraba State: 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam confiscated from Shafiu Ismail, 22.
• Jigawa State: Tijjani Mohammed, 35, arrested with 198kg of skunk in Garki LGA.
• Abuja-Kaduna Highway: Ismail Isah, 29, found with an AK-47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrests and seizures in a statement on Sunday, noting that the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also continued nationwide throughout the week.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across the various state commands for their vigilance and effectiveness, emphasizing the agency’s dual focus on reducing both the supply and demand of illicit drugs in Nigeria.