101-Year-Old Woman Arrested as NDLEA Intercepts Drugs Concealed in Fufu, Seizes N4.4bn Loud

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 101-year-old woman, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs in Ilisan, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The arrest formed part of a series of operations conducted by NDLEA operatives across the country, which also led to the interception of cocaine concealed in edible cassava flour, popularly known as fufu, as well as large consignments of synthetic cannabis, tramadol, methamphetamine and other illicit substances.

According to a statement issued by the agency on Sunday, August 23, 2026, Ogunmabo was arrested on Saturday, August 15, with 90 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets.

The centenarian reportedly told NDLEA operatives that she had returned to the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was razed by fire. She allegedly explained that one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied the substance to her every four days, after which she sold it in smaller quantities to customers.

Following her arrest, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), directed that the 101-year-old suspect be granted bail and subjected to counselling because of her advanced age. Her daughter, who allegedly supplied the drugs, was, however, arrested.

In a related operation in Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a wooden boat allegedly conveying illicit drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon.

Three suspects arrested aboard the boat were identified as Etim Effiong Ekpeok, 29; Otobong Eyoh Etukudo, 33; and 27-year-old Kingsley Effiong John.

The agency said a total of 42.622kg of narcotics was recovered from the suspects, including 42.060kg of skunk, 435 grams of skunk and 20 grams of cocaine concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava flour.

In Lagos, the NDLEA recorded what it described as its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through the maritime corridor, following the interception of two containers at the Apapa and Lekki ports.

The two consignments contained a combined 1,490kg of Thai Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, with an estimated street value of more than N4.4 billion.

At the Apapa Port, a container declared to contain dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries was examined jointly by the NDLEA, Customs and other agencies on Friday, August 21.

The examination revealed 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud packed in 54 cartons containing 2,181 sachets of 500 grams each.

At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, another container earlier placed on the NDLEA watchlist was examined on Wednesday, August 19. Four of seven pallets found inside the container were discovered to contain Thai Loud, comprising 96 cartons and 400 parcels weighing 400kg.

The remaining three pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper, which the agency said had been used as cover for the illicit consignment.

NDLEA said both containers were loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, indicating the emergence of a new trafficking route allegedly being exploited by drug syndicates to smuggle synthetic cannabis into Nigeria.

In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives on Saturday, August 22, intercepted three waybill packages containing 24,410 pills of tramadol capsules concealed inside a Hummer bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba.

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.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives raided a cannabis farm at Ijare Forest in Ifedore Local Government Area on August 19, following the earlier arrest of three suspected cannabis growers at the location.

The operation resulted in the destruction of 10,000kg of skunk cultivated across four hectares of forest.

In another operation at Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area, 210kg of skunk and a Toyota Camry allegedly belonging to Sylvester Diabiagu Anthony, who remains at large, were recovered.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives patrolling the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Expressway intercepted an unregistered Toyota Starlet on Friday, August 21. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 1.325kg of methamphetamine and quantities of cannabis sativa, while a 22-year-old suspect, Muhammadu Usman, was arrested.

In Oyo State, a 65-year-old woman, Adebayo Kaosarat, was arrested in the Akobo-Ojurin area of Ibadan with 4.68kg of assorted illicit substances. The consignment comprised 1.795kg of Scottish Loud, 1.66kg of tramadol, 600 grams of codeine syrup, 125 grams of diazepam and 50 grams of flunitrazepam.

Similarly, a raid at Hadejia Road in Kano on August 17 led to the arrest of 31-year-old Chibuzor Madueke, from whom 98 blocks of skunk weighing 73.3kg were recovered.

At Ashipa, near the Seme border in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested three members of a family—52-year-old Nasiru Tijjani, 27-year-old Moshood Tijjani and 27-year-old Salami Tijjani—with 48kg of skunk.

In Abia State, NDLEA officers raided the residence of 36-year-old Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno at Umuobia Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area, where they recovered 14.4kg of Loud, 2.3kg of Colorado, 386 grams of tramadol and 134 grams of rohypnol.

The NDLEA said its commands and formations across the country also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns during the week, targeting schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The agency said the sensitisation activities were aimed at increasing public awareness of the dangers of illicit drug use and trafficking.