An 83-year-old ex-convict has again been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with methamphetamine and Colorado, barely a year after her previous arrest and conviction.
A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja stated that the drugs were concealed around her waist.
Babafemi said that the octogenarian was arrested on Oct. 7 at her home in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area (LGA) Abia, with quantities of Methamphetamine and Colorado tied to her waist with a wrapper.
According to him, her re-arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that she runs a notorious drug joint that harbours criminal elements who terrorise the community.
“Her first encounter with the law was on May 17, 2025 when she was arrested by NDLEA operatives at her residence in the same village alongside her daughter.
“They were with 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grams of tramadol.
“Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. They paid the fine and were released by the court.
“Undeterred, the notorious old woman promptly returned to the criminal trade and escalated the scale by setting up a drug joint where she harbours dangerous characters,” he said.
Babafemi further said that NDLEA operatives, working in synergy with Customs Service, arrested a South African lady with 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a specie of cannabis, weighing 32.74 kilograms, concealed in two travelling bags at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers
He said that the suspect had travelled from Thailand via Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431.
“She confessed to having previously trafficked through other African countries, and was expanding her route to Port Harcourt when she was caught,” he said.
“With the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
“These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Progressive Grammar School, Tede, Oyo state; Ehugbo Technical College, Afikpo, Ebonyi; Baptist High School, Lambata, Niger state;
Madarasatul Tarbiyatul Islamiya, Galangalan Tudun Wada, Kano.
“Ipara Senior and Junior Community Secondary School, Badagry, Lagos; and Manbahu Ridwanullah Nursery and Primary School, Olomore Abeokuta, Ogun state, among others,” he said.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa(rtd) as commending the officers and men of Lagos, MMIA and PHIA commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the various successful operations.
“Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency,” Babafemi said.
