In a series of nationwide raids, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a surprising group, including two octogenarians – 80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old Uloma Uchechi Sunday.
Uloma’s 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, was also among those arrested.
Separately, the agency made significant interceptions at Apapa seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers State, seizing opioids valued at over N3.2 billion.
In a statement sent to Persecondnews on Sunday in Abuja, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said Ayuba had previously been arrested and prosecuted by NDLEA for drug-dealing offences, convicted, and served a 10-year jail term from 2014 to 2024.
The statement reads: “He was again arrested on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Barazana Street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State, by NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence.
“A total of 2.3kilograms of skunk packaged in nylons and papers in retail sizes were recovered from him. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years.”
Similarly, on Saturday, May 17, NDLEA operatives in Abia State raided the home of 82-year-old Uzoma Uchechi Sunday at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village, recovering various quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, and skunk (a cannabis strain), along with N130,600 in cash from her and her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi.
The statement added: “The grandma confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son who started the business died two years ago.
“At the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state, a total of 3,000,000 pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg worth N2.1billion in street value were intercepted in one of the containers watch-listed by the Agency based on intelligence.
“The seizure was made on Wednesday, May 14, during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, Customs Service personnel, and other security agencies.
“In a similar manner, NDLEA operatives at Apapa seaport in Lagos intercepted another watch-listed container declared to contain new car parts and accessories from India on Tuesday, May 13. During a joint examination with other security agencies, they discovered 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup, valued at over N1.1 billion in street value, concealed in the shipment.
“In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail, at Gegele area of Ilorin on Friday, May 16, recovering 199,200 pills of tramadol.
“During the operation, operatives also raided Favour Lodge in the state capital, arresting HND 1 student Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, who was found with 650 grams of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, already measured in 149 cups, which he reportedly sold to other students at Kwara State Polytechnic.
“At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) on Friday, May 16, intercepted 250grams of cocaine concealed in female headgear going to Australia.”
Babafemi said NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger State on Thursday, May 15, intercepted a Toyota Carina car, marked AGL 945 BK, conveying 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143kg, while one suspect, Idris Kamal, 35, was arrested.
He said: “Same day, operatives on patrol at Chachi junction along Kaduna road arrested Emmanuel Hassan, 26, with 14.3kg Loud. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Bello Aliyu (alias Liti), 39.
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“A 60-year-old suspect, Welman Kengbo, was nabbed by NDLEA officers with 594.8kg of skunk in the Karu area of Nasarawa State on Friday, May 16, another suspect, Oyenuga Toheeb, was arrested along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos on Thursday, May 15, with 67.5kg of the same psychoactive substance.
“In Taraba state, 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Shafiu Ismail, 22, when he was arrested on Thursday, May 15, at Sabonlayin, Jalingo LGA, while
Tijjani Mohammed, 35, was nabbed with 198kg skunk at Malamawa, Garki LGA, Jigawa state same day.
“NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja – Kaduna highway on Friday, May 16, intercepted a 29-year-old Ismail Isah with an AK 47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack 1 maize. He will be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.”
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands continued across the country over the past week.
Some notable events included WADA sensitization lectures delivered to students and staff at Supreme International School in Fagge, Kano; Al-Arifeen International Academy in Kaduna; Nadado Primary School in Bakori, Katsina; Ila Orangun Grammar School in Osun State; and Government Secondary School in Onne, Rivers State, among others.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers of the Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, PHIPC, Apapa, Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Taraba, and Niger Commands for their arrests and seizures over the past week.
He also praised all the commands nationwide for striking a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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