Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded major breakthroughs in the nationwide fight against illicit drug trafficking, including the arrest of a 101-year-old woman for alleged cannabis dealing, the interception of cocaine concealed in cassava flour, and the seizure of more than N4.4 billion worth of Thai Loud at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the operations also led to the recovery of methamphetamine, skunk, tramadol, codeine, diazepam, flunitrazepam and other illicit substances across several states.
In Ogun State, operatives arrested 101-year-old Esther Ogunmabo at Ilisan on August 15, 2026, with 90 grammes of skunk packaged in retail sachets.
The centenarian reportedly told investigators that she resorted to selling the drug in small quantities after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire. She allegedly said one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied the substance to her every four days.
Following her arrest, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and placed on counselling because of her advanced age. Her daughter was subsequently arrested.
In Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a wooden boat allegedly transporting drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon. Three suspects were arrested and 42.622kg of narcotics recovered, including 20 grammes of cocaine concealed inside a wrap of fufu.
At the Lagos ports, two containers shipped from Laem Chabang, Thailand, were found to contain a combined 1,490.5kg of Thai Loud valued at more than N4.4 billion.
The Apapa-bound container, which was declared to contain assorted goods, concealed 1,090.5kg of the drug in 54 cartons. Another 400kg was recovered from a container at Lekki Deep Sea Port, where A4 paper was allegedly used to conceal the consignment.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted 24,410 tramadol pills concealed in three waybill packages inside a Hummer bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba. The operation led to the arrest of 28-year-old Sunday Eze in Kontagora, Niger State.
In Ondo State, the agency destroyed 10,000kg of skunk cultivated on four hectares of farmland in Ijare Forest and recovered an additional 210kg in a separate operation.
Kwara State operatives recovered 1.325kg of methamphetamine and cannabis from a Toyota Starlet, leading to the arrest of 22-year-old Muhammadu Usman.
In Oyo State, 65-year-old Adebayo Kaosarat was arrested with 4.68kg of assorted illicit substances, including Loud, tramadol, codeine, diazepam and flunitrazepam.
At Seme, Lagos State, three members of the Tijjani family were arrested with 48kg of skunk, while NDLEA operatives in Kano recovered 73.3kg of skunk from 31-year-old Chibuzor Madueke.
In Abia State, a raid on the residence of Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno led to the recovery of 14.4kg of Loud, 2.3kg of Colorado, tramadol and Rohypnol.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious institutions and communities across the country.
Commending the various commands for their efforts, Marwa urged NDLEA personnel to sustain intelligence-led operations against drug trafficking while strengthening prevention, counselling and public awareness initiatives.
