Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The NDLEA drug seizures have intensified nationwide after operatives arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother for allegedly selling cannabis in Ogun State and intercepted more than 1.49 tonnes of cannabis indica worth over ₦4.4 billion at Lagos seaports.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announces the arrests and seizures in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, describing the operations as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks across Nigeria.
According to the agency, the centenarian was arrested on August 15 in Ilisan, Ogun State, with 90 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
Investigators say the suspect admitted selling cannabis in small quantities after a fire destroyed her provisions shop.
She allegedly told operatives that her daughter, who lives in Lagos, supplied her with cannabis every four days for distribution to local buyers.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives intercept a wooden boat allegedly transporting illicit drugs to fishing communities in Cameroon through Akwa Ibom State.
The agency says three suspects were arrested and 42.622 kilogrammes of narcotics recovered, including 42.06kg of skunk, other quantities of cannabis and 20 grams of cocaine concealed inside a wrap of edible cassava fufu.
The agency also records what it describes as its first seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime corridor.
At Apapa Port, officers discover 1,090.5kg of cannabis indica, popularly known as Loud, inside a container declared to contain dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries.
Another 400kg of the same substance was recovered from a second container intercepted at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
NDLEA estimates the combined street value of the seized consignments at more than ₦4.4 billion.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Hope Ajayi 
Mirian Gom 