NDLEA arrests 80-year-old ex-convict, 82-year-old woman with ‘illicit drugs’ in Kaduna, Abia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested 80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru, an ex-convict, in Kaduna allegedly with 2.3kilograms of skunk packaged in nylons and papers in retail sizes.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, said Ayuba had previously been arrested and prosecuted by the agency for drug dealing offences.

Babafemi said the suspect was convicted and served 10-year jail term between 2014 and 2024, before he was again arrested on May 14 at Barazana street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna.

According to the NDLEA spokesperson, the suspect claimed to have been in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years.

Also, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives arrested 82-year-old grandma Uloma Uchechi and her daughter Chisom Uchechi, 32, at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village, Abia state, where different quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol and skunk, a strain of cannabis were recovered.

He added that a cash exhibit of N130,600 was recovered also recovered from mother and daughter.

“The grandma confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son who started the business died two years ago,” the statement reads.

“At the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state, a total of three million (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 14th May during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

“In like manner, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on Tuesday 13th May intercepted another watch-listed container declared to have new car parts and accessories from India.

“During a joint examination with other security agencies, a total of 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1billion in street value were discovered concealed in the shipment.

“In Kwara state, no fewer than 199,200 pills of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail on Friday 16th May following their arrest at Gegele area of Ilorin by NDLEA operatives who also raided Favour Lodge in the state capital where an HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef was arrested with 650grams of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis already measured in 149 cups, which he sells to other students.

“At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) on Friday 16th May intercepted 250grams of cocaine concealed in female headgear going to Australia.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road on Thursday 15th May intercepted a Toyota Carina car marked AGL 945 BK conveying 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143kg while a suspect, Idris Kamal, 35, was arrested. 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.

While a 60-year-old suspect, Welman Kengbo was nabbed by NDLEA officers with 594.8kg skunk at Karu area of Nasarawa state on Friday 16th May, another suspect Oyenuga Toheeb
was arrested along Lekki/Epe expressway, Lagos on Thursday 15th May 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 15th May at Sabonlayin, Jalingo LGA, while Tijjani Mohammed, 35, was nabbed with 198kg skunk at Malamawa, Garki LGA, Jigawa state same day.”

He added that NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja – Kaduna highway on May 16 intercepted a 29-year-old Ismail Isah with an AK 47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize.

Babafemi said the suspect would be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.