The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, over alleged involvement in the sale of illicit cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State.
According to the NDLEA, Ogunmabo was found with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in small sachets for retail sales. The agency said the centenarian told investigators that she turned to the drug trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the woman claimed that one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied the substance to her periodically, after which she sold it in small quantities to customers in the community.
Following the arrest, NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and receive counselling because of her advanced age. Her daughter was also arrested in connection with the case.
In a separate operation in Akwa Ibom, NDLEA operatives intercepted a wooden boat allegedly transporting illicit drugs towards fishing communities in Cameroon. Three suspects were arrested, with more than 42kg of narcotics recovered.
The agency also announced its first reported seizure of cannabis indica, popularly called Loud, shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime routes. Two containers intercepted at Apapa and Lekki ports contained a combined haul valued at more than N4.4bn.
At Apapa, authorities recovered over 1,090kg of the substance concealed in a container that had been declared to contain various legitimate goods. Another 400kg was recovered at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, where the drugs were reportedly hidden among other cargo.
The NDLEA also reported the interception of 24,410 tramadol capsules in the Federal Capital Territory, the destruction of a cannabis farm in Ondo State and several other arrests and seizures across Kano, Lagos, Abia and other locations.
Marwa commended personnel involved in the operations and urged NDLEA commands nationwide to sustain their efforts against drug trafficking while maintaining a balanced approach to enforcement.
