The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, over alleged drug-related activities in Abia State, less than a year after she was convicted of similar offences.

The agency said operatives arrested Sunday on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area, following intelligence reports alleging that she operated a drug joint frequented by criminal elements.

According to an NDLEA statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives allegedly found quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, concealed around her waist with a wrapper.

Sunday was previously arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi. The agency said officers recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol during that operation.

Both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦200,000 each. They paid the fines and were released, according to the agency.

South African Woman Arrested at Port Harcourt Airport

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service arrested a South African national, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.

The agency said 30 parcels of cannabis, known as Thai Loud, weighing 32.74 kilogrammes were allegedly concealed in two travelling bags.

Jessie reportedly arrived from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight. The NDLEA said she admitted to previously trafficking drugs through other African countries before attempting to extend her route to Port Harcourt.

354,000 Tapentadol Tablets Seized in Lagos

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, operatives intercepted nine cartons of pharmaceutical products shipped from Pakistan aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight.

A joint examination of the consignment on October 6 reportedly uncovered 354,000 tablets of tapentadol, each weighing 250mg, with a combined weight of 307.2kg.

In another operation, officers intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.9kg in six Ghana-Must-Go bags concealed in a shipment from the United Kingdom.

The agency said a clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, was arrested on September 30. Other suspects subsequently arrested included Taofiq Ajibola, 54, an Uber driver; Adetunji Adebayo; and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, a clothing trader.

According to the NDLEA, the suspects linked the consignments to two associates based in the UK, identified as Lukman Sa’idu and Yusuf.

Over One Tonne of Cannabis Recovered in Cross River

In Cross River State, operatives arrested 46-year-old Adama Inuwa in Iyala Nkun village, Ikom Local Government Area, on October 4.

The operation reportedly led to the recovery of 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100kg and 17.15kg of cannabis seeds.

In Edo State, officers intercepted a black Toyota Camry conveying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83kg at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5.

Three suspects — Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20 — were arrested in connection with the seizure.

Another suspect, Ojugo Mercy, 26, was arrested in Benin City with 989 grammes of Loud, 13 grammes of Colorado and 83 grammes of methamphetamine.

More Arrests in Ondo, Taraba, Kano and Kaduna

In Ondo State, the agency said operatives arrested 21-year-old Happy Endurance in the Shasha area of Akure, recovering 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290kg.

A separate raid in Oba-Ile, also in Akure, led to the arrest of Tunde Adebayo, 42, and the recovery of 35 bags of cannabis weighing 351kg.

In Taraba State, officers backed by soldiers arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, in Chanchanji village, Wukari Local Government Area, on October 9. They allegedly recovered 166,200 tablets of tramadol weighing 107kg.

A stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road in Kano State led to the arrest of Yahaya Musa, 32, with 24,990 tramadol capsules, 50,000 diazepam tablets and 22,000 Exol-5 tablets.

In Kaduna State, officers patrolling the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway arrested Mohammed Musa, 29, with cannabis consignments weighing a combined 1,027kg.

Firearms Recovered in Plateau

The NDLEA also reported recovering firearms and ammunition during a raid on the residence of Christian Chukwudi Uju, 45, on Rukuba Road in Jos, Plateau State, on October 8.

Items reportedly recovered included 47 grammes of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, one locally made gun, 199 live cartridges, five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and one round of 9mm ammunition.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged personnel nationwide to sustain intelligence-led enforcement and drug prevention efforts.