NDLEA Intensifies Operations Against Narcotic Trade and Illegal Trafficking

High-Profile Arrests and Recidivism

One of the most notable cases involves Uloma Sunday, an 83-year-old ex-convict arrested at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa LGA, Abia State. The arrest occurred on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Operatives discovered consignments of Methamphetamine and Colorado concealed around her waist using a wrapper. This marks a re-arrest barely a year after her initial prosecution. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA director of media and advocacy, stated that intelligence suggested she ran a notorious drug joint harbouring criminal elements.

Sunday first encounter with the law took place on May 17, 2025, when she was arrested alongside her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, 32. Authorities seized 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves, and 12 grams of tramadol at the residence. Both pleaded guilty and received sentences of 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. They paid the fine and were released. Despite this, Sunday promptly returned to the trade and allegedly escalated operations by setting up a drug joint.

International Supply Chain Disruptions

The agency also disrupted international trafficking routes. A South African lady, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, was arrested at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State. She was found with 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a species of cannabis weighing 32.74 kilograms, concealed in two travelling bags. She had travelled from Thailand via Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431. The suspect confessed to trafficking through other African countries and was expanding her route to Port Harcourt when intercepted.

Furthermore, at the Import Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, operatives intercepted nine cartons from Pakistan on a Royal Air Maroc flight. The cargo arrived on September 29 and was examined on October 6. The joint examination uncovered 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg weighing 307.20 kilograms. In another interdiction at the same airport, a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom was monitored after arriving on 29th September.

Six Ghana-Must-Go bags from the UK contained 70 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid weighing 75.90 kilograms. A clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, was arrested on 30th September. Taofiq Ajibola, 54, an Uber driver, was arrested while collecting a bag at a logistics company in Mafoluku, Oshodi. Adetunji Adebayo and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, a clothing trader, were also arrested for the remaining bags. Ajibola claimed the drugs came from a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa'idu, while Dosunmu cited another UK source named Yusuf.

Domestic Interdiction and Road Operations

Operations extended to rural areas and road networks. In Iyala Nkun village, Ikom LGA, Cross River State, a raid on Sunday, 4th October led to the arrest of Adama Inuwa, 46. He was found with 181 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,100 kilograms and 17.15 kilograms of cannabis seeds. In Edo State, operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East LGA, on Monday, 5th October. The vehicle conveyed 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83 kilograms.

Monday Orji, 52, Monday Lawal, 40, and Precious Uduegele, 20, were arrested in connection with the Edo seizure. In Benin City, Ojugo Mercy, 26, was arrested at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, with 989 grams of Loud, 13 grams of Colorado, and 83 grams of methamphetamine. In Akure, Ondo State, a 21-year-old suspect, Happy Endurance, was trailed to a hideout in the Shasha area. Agents recovered 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290 kilograms on Monday, 5th October. A raid on an apartment at Oba-Ile, Akure, led to the arrest of Tunde Adebayo, 42, with 35 bags of the same psychoactive substance weighing 351 kilograms.

In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, at Chanchanji village, Wukari LGA, on Friday, 9th October. The arrest involved 166,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 107 kilograms. On the Kano-Maiduguri road, Kano, a stop-and-search operation on the same day led to the arrest of Yahaya Musa, 32. He was found with 24,990 capsules of Tramadol, 50,000 tablets of Diazepam, and 22,000 tablets of Exol-5.

Patrols along the Zaria-Kaduna expressway in Kaduna State resulted in the arrest of Mohammed Musa, 29. He possessed 31 jumbo bags of skunk and 775 blocks of the same substance with a combined weight of 1,027 kilograms. In Orile, Lagos, Musbau Adekunle was arrested on Tuesday, 6th October. He had 32.51 kilograms of skunk and 52.65 kilograms of its seeds, totalling 85.16 kilograms.

Public Security and Community Outreach

The operations also involved the recovery of weapons. Operatives raided the residence of a 45-year-old Christian Chukwudi at Rukuba Road, Jos, Plateau State on Thursday, 8th October. The raid led to the seizure of 47 grams of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, one locally made gun, 199 live cartridges, five rounds of 7.62mm, and one round of 9mm ammunition. This indicates a link between drug peddling and wider security threats.

Beyond enforcement, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities. Recent engagements included enlightenment lectures at Progressive Grammar School in Tede, Oyo State, and Ehugbo Technical College in Afikpo, Ebonyi. Other institutions targeted were Baptist High School in Lambata, Niger State, Madarasatul Tarbiyatul Islamiya in Galangalan Tudun Wada, Kano, Ipara Senior and Junior Community Secondary School in Badagry, Lagos, and Manbahu Ridwanullah Nursery and Primary School in Olomore Abeokuta, Ogun State.

What this means

These recent NDLEA operations demonstrate a continued commitment to disrupting both international and domestic drug networks. The seizures span across multiple states, targeting diverse distribution methods ranging from airport cargo to road transport. While enforcement remains strict, the agency simultaneously focuses on preventative measures through community education. These combined efforts aim to stabilise public safety and curb the availability of illicit substances across Nigerian borders and communities.