The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested several suspects across Nigeria, including an 80-year-old former convict and an 82-year-old grandmother, in a series of operations that led to the seizure of opioids valued at over N3.2 billion.

Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, in a statement on Sunday, May 18, 2025, disclosed that one Ayuba Ashiru, 80, previously convicted of drug offenses and recently released after serving a 10-year sentence (2014–2024), was arrested again on May 14 at Barazana Street, Dogarawa area in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Officers recovered 2.3 kilograms of skunk cannabis packaged in retail sizes from him. Ayuba told operatives he has been involved in the drug trade for 46 years.

In Abia State, NDLEA operatives raided the home of 82-year-old Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday and her 32-year-old daughter Chisom Uchechi on May 17 at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village. Various quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, skunk cannabis, and N130,600 in cash were recovered. Mrs. Uchechi explained that she and her daughter took over the drug business following the death of her son two years ago.

At the Port Harcourt port in Onne, Rivers State, a container carrying 3 million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol, with a street value of about N2.1 billion, was seized on May 14 during a joint operation by NDLEA, Customs, and other agencies.

A separate seizure at Apapa seaport, Lagos, on May 13 uncovered 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1 billion concealed in a container declared as carrying car parts from India.

In Kwara State, 199,200 tramadol pills were recovered from Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail after their arrest on May 16 in Ilorin’s Gegele area. A raid at zxFavour Lodge in Ilorin also led to the arrest of Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, an HND 1 student at Kwara State Polytechnic, with 650 grams of cannabis measured in 149 cups, which he reportedly sold to fellow students.

On May 16, NDLEA officers intercepted 250 grams of cocaine concealed in female headgear destined for Australia at a courier company in Lagos.
Other seizures include 143 kilograms of skunk cannabis in a Toyota Carina vehicle in Niger State on May 15, leading to the arrest of Idris Kamal, 35; 14.3 kilograms of cannabis in Kaduna State from Emmanuel Hassan, 26; and the arrest of Bello Aliyu (alias Liti), 39, identified as the owner of the consignment.

Additional arrests included Welman Kengbo, 60, caught with 594.8 kilograms of skunk in Nasarawa State on May 16; Oyenuga Toheeb, detained with 67.5 kilograms of cannabis in Lagos State on May 15; Shafiu Ismail, 22, arrested with 5,350 tramadol and diazepam pills in Taraba State on May 15; and Tijjani Mohammed, 35, nabbed with 198 kilograms of skunk in Jigawa State on the same day.

Meanwhile, on May 16, NDLEA operatives stopped a Toyota Carina vehicle on the Abuja-Kaduna highway and arrested 29-year-old Ismail Isah with an AK-47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize. The suspect is to be transferred to a relevant security agency for further investigation.

The NDLEA has also conducted War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy programs in schools across several states including Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Osun, and Rivers.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the recent arrests and seizures and recognized their efforts in balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction activities.