Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 83-year-old woman and a South African national in separate drug trafficking operations, while seizing large quantities of narcotics across several states.
The elderly suspect, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, was arrested on October 7 at her home in Abia State with methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis product, allegedly concealed around her waist. She had been convicted of drug offences in May 2025 alongside her daughter, after both pleaded guilty, and were released after paying court-imposed fines.
In a separate operation at Port Harcourt International Airport, authorities arrested South African national Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie after discovering 32.74 kilogrammes of cannabis, known as Thai Loud, concealed in two travel bags. She had arrived from Thailand via Doha, according to the NDLEA.
Other major seizures included 354,000 tablets of tapentadol intercepted at Lagos airport in a shipment from Pakistan, and 75.9 kilogrammes of Colorado found in cargo from the United Kingdom. Several suspects were arrested in connection with the shipments.
Across the country, the agency reported further seizures of cannabis, methamphetamine and other controlled substances in Cross River, Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna and Lagos states. In Plateau State, officers also recovered methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, a locally made firearm and ammunition during a raid in Jos.
