NDLEA arrests 101-year-old great-grandma with cocaine-in-fufu racket in Lagos

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a string of major breakthroughs across the country’s land and maritime borders, including the arrest of a 101-year-old great-grandmother for alleged drug dealing and the interception of cocaine concealed inside cassava fufu.

In a statement issued yesterday by the agency’s director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA said its operatives also intercepted two containers laden with Thai-origin synthetic cannabis, popularly known as “Loud”, valued at over N4.4 billion at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos. The agency said the seizure marked the first time it had intercepted drugs shipped into Nigeria through a maritime route from Thailand.

In one of the most striking cases, operatives on August 15 arrested 101-year-old Esther Ogunmabo at Ilisan, Ogun State, with 90 grammes of skunk packed in retail sachets. The centenarian reportedly told the operatives that she resorted to drug peddling after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.

She further disclosed that a daughter based in Lagos supplied her with the illicit substance every four days.

Following the arrest, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd.), directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and placed on counselling in view of her advanced age, while her daughter was arrested for investigation.

In Akwa Ibom State, a joint intelligence-led operation on August 21 intercepted a wooden boat allegedly conveying illicit drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon.

Three suspects were arrested in connection with the operation, including 27-year-old Kingsley Effiong John, who was found with 20 grammes of cocaine concealed inside a wrap of edible fufu.

The suspect was also found with 435 grammes of skunk, while a total of 42.622kg of narcotics was recovered from the three suspects.

At the Lagos ports, the NDLEA said the consignments of Thai “Loud” were concealed behind legitimate goods.

According to the agency, a container at the Apapa Port declared to contain dry fish, rice, spare parts, soap and inverter batteries was found to contain 1,090.5kg of Loud packed in 2,181 sachets.

Similarly, a watch-listed container at the Lekki Deep Sea Port yielded 400kg of Loud concealed beneath 798 rims of A4 paper.

The NDLEA said other operations carried out during the week resulted in the interception of 24,410 tramadol pills concealed in waybill packages inside a bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba.

The owner of the consignment was subsequently arrested in Kontagora, Niger State.

In Ondo State, operatives destroyed 10,000kg of skunk cultivated on a four-hectare cannabis farm in Ijare forest.

Along the Ogbomosho-Ilorin Expressway in Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a vehicle and recovered 1.325kg of methamphetamine and cannabis.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, a 65-year-old woman was arrested with 4.68kg of a cocktail of Loud, tramadol, codeine syrup, diazepam and flunitrazepam.

Further raids and interceptions were recorded in Kano, Seme in Lagos State and Abia State.

In Abia, operatives recovered Loud, Colorado, tramadol and rohypnol during a raid on a residence in Umuahia South.

Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands across the country continued with sensitisation activities under the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

The campaign involved engagements with schools, religious institutions and community leaders in Kano, Oyo, Kebbi, Taraba, Edo and Ogun states.

Marwa commended the operatives of the affected Commands for their efforts, urging them to sustain the momentum in the fight against illicit drugs.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to what he described as a “balanced approach” to drug control, combining enforcement with prevention, sensitisation, counselling and rehabilitation.