By Joy Yesufu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, for allegedly dealing in cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State, as the agency reported major drug seizures and arrests across several states.
The centenarian was arrested on Saturday, August 15, with 90 grammes of cannabis, popularly known as skunk, packaged in retail sachets.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Ogunmabo told operatives that she turned to illicit drug dealing after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.
Babafemi said the woman also disclosed that one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, allegedly arranged the supply of the cannabis to her every four days, which she subsequently sold in small quantities to local customers.
Following her arrest, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that the centenarian be granted bail and placed on counselling because of her advanced age.
The agency said her daughter had, however, been arrested in connection with the case.
In a separate operation, the NDLEA said it intercepted two containers of cannabis indica, popularly known as “Loud”, allegedly shipped from Thailand through the maritime corridor.
The agency put the combined street value of the consignments at more than N4.4 billion, describing the seizures as its first reported interception of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime corridor.
Babafemi said the containers originated from the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, indicating what the agency described as an emerging trafficking route being exploited by drug syndicates.
At the Apapa Port, a container declared to contain dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries was found to contain 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud.
The consignment was packed in 54 cartons containing 2,181 sachets of 500 grammes each, the agency said.
At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, another container monitored by the NDLEA’s Marine Special Operations Unit was found to contain 400kg of Thai Loud concealed among seven pallets.
According to the agency, four of the pallets contained 96 cartons comprising 400 parcels of the drug, while the remaining three contained 798 reams of A4 paper allegedly used to conceal the consignment.
In Akwa Ibom, NDLEA operatives intercepted a wooden boat allegedly transporting illicit drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon.
The agency said the boat was intercepted on Friday, August 21, while heading towards the Ine Isu, Ine Mbah and Ine Ikot Itie Udung fishing ports.
The three suspects arrested were identified as Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29, who allegedly had 1.120kg of skunk; Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33, with 42.060kg of skunk; and Kingsley Effiong John, 27, who was allegedly found with 20 grammes of cocaine concealed inside a large wrap of cassava fufu, alongside 435 grammes of skunk.
The agency said a total of 42.622kg of narcotics was recovered from the suspects.
In Ondo State, the agency said operatives destroyed approximately 10,000kg of cannabis cultivated across four hectares of farmland in Ijare Forest, Ifedore Local Government Area.
The operation followed the earlier arrest of three suspected cannabis farmers at the same location on August 16.
In another operation in the state, operatives recovered 210kg of skunk and a Toyota Camry car at Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area.
The vehicle was allegedly linked to Sylvester Dibiagu Anthony, who the agency said was currently at large.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives intercepted three waybill packages containing 24,410 tramadol capsules concealed inside a Hummer bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba.
Babafemi said a follow-up operation in Niger State led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 28-year-old Sunday Eze, in Kontagora.
He was subsequently transferred to Abuja for further investigation, according to the agency.
The NDLEA also reported several other arrests and seizures across the country.
In Kano, operatives arrested 31-year-old Chibuzor Madueke with 98 blocks of skunk weighing 73.3kg.
In Lagos, three members of the Tijjani family, Nasiru Tijjani, 52; Moshood Tijjani, 27; and Salami Tijjani, 27, were arrested near the Seme border with 48kg of skunk.
In Abia State, the agency said 14.4kg of Loud, 2.3kg of Colorado cannabis, 386 grammes of tramadol and 134 grammes of rohypnol were recovered during a raid on the residence of 36-year-old Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno in Umuahia South Local Government Area.
The NDLEA said investigations into the various cases were ongoing.
Marwa commended personnel of the Ogun, Apapa, Lekki, Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT commands for what he described as successful operations.
He urged NDLEA officers across the country to sustain the agency’s “balanced approach” to drug-control operations.
