Drug War: NDLEA Arrests Ex-Convict, Grandma, Intercepts ₦3.2bn Worth of Opioids in Lagos, Rivers
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Mr. Ayuba Ashiru, an ex-convict, 80, a grandma, Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday, 82, and her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, 32, who were among the agency’s most wanted suspects for drug-related offenses.
Ashiru, Uchechi, and her daughter were apprehended by NDLEA during raids across the country.
The anti-narcotics agency also intercepted opioids worth over ₦3.2 billion at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and the Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers State.
The Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement made available to Thelensng on Sunday.
“Ayuba had previously been arrested and prosecuted by NDLEA for drug dealing offences was convicted and served 10-year jail term between 2014 and 2024. He was again arrested on Wednesday 14th May 2025 at Barazana Street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State by NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence.
“A total of 2.3kilograms of skunk packaged in nylons and papers in retail sizes were recovered from him. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years.
“Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Abia state on Saturday 17th May raided the home of 82-year-old Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village where different quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol and skunk, a strain of cannabis as well as a cash exhibit of ₦130,600 were recovered from her and her daughter, 32-year-old Chisom Uchechi. The grandma confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son who started the business died two years ago,” the statement noted.
Babefemi revealed that a total of three million (3,000,000) pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg, with a street value of ₦2.1 billion, were intercepted in one of the containers watch-listed by the Agency based on intelligence at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers State.
The seizure was made on May 14, during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on May 13 intercepted another watch-listed container declared to have new car parts and accessories from India.
During a joint examination with other security agencies, a total of 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over ₦1.1 billion in street value were discovered concealed in the shipment.
Elsewhere (Kwara State), no fewer than 199,200 pills of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail on May 16 following their arrest at Gegele area of Ilorin.
The NDLEA operatives made the arrest after raiding Favour Lodge in the state capital, where they apprehended Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, an HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic.
Abdulateef was found with 650grams of Loud (a strong strain of cannabis) already measured into 149 cups, which he was selling to other students.
Similarly, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted 250grams of cocaine concealed in female headgear at a courier company in Lagos on May 16, destined for Australia.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road on May 15 intercepted a Toyota Carina car (AGL 945 BK) conveying 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143kg, and arrested a suspect, Idris Kamal, 35.
On the same day, the agency’s operatives on patrol at Chachi junction along Kaduna road nabbed Emmanuel Hassan, 26, with 14.3kg of Loud. A swift follow-up operation led to the apprehension of the consignment’s actual owner, Bello Aliyu (alias Liti), 39.
The statement further read: “While a 60-year-old suspect, Welman Kengbo was nabbed by NDLEA officers with 594.8kg skunk at Karu area of Nasarawa State on Friday 16th May, another suspect Oyenuga Toheeb was arrested along Lekki/Epe expressway, Lagos on Thursday 15th May with 67.5kg of the same psychoactive substance.
“In Taraba State, 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Shafiu Ismail, 22, when he was arrested on Thursday 15th May at Sabonlayin, Jalingo LGA, while Tijjani Mohammed, 35, was nabbed with 198kg skunk at Malamawa, Garki LGA, Jigawa state same day.”
NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja – Kaduna highway on May 16 also intercepted Ismail Isah, 29, with an AK 47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize.
“He will be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands continued across the country in the past week.
The activities include: WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of Supreme International School, Fagge, Kano; Al-Arifeen International Academy, Kaduna; Nadado Primary School, Bakori, Katsina; Ila Orangun Grammar School, Ila Orangun, Osun State; and students and staff of Government Secondary School, Onne, Rivers State; among others.
Reacting to the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of DOGI, Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, PHIPC, Apapa, Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Taraba, and Niger Commands of the Agency.
Marwa also lauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
