A woman identified as Esther Ogunmabo, reportedly aged 101, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs in Ogun State.
According to the agency, Ogunmabo was arrested on Saturday in the Ilisan area with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, which she allegedly sold to locals.
The woman reportedly told operatives that she turned to the drug trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, allegedly supplied her with the substance every four days, which she then sold in smaller quantities.
However, NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Marwa directed that the elderly suspect be granted bail and placed on counselling because of her age. Her daughter was also arrested.
Separate Drug Interception in Akwa Ibom
In another operation, NDLEA operatives in Akwa Ibom intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas on Friday, allegedly carrying illicit drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon.
Three suspects — Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29, Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33, and Kingsley Effiong John, 27 — were arrested.
The agency said Eekpo had 1.120kg of skunk, Etukudoh had 42.060kg of skunk, while John was found with 20 grammes of cocaine hidden inside a large wrap of cassava fufu, alongside 435 grammes of skunk.
A total of 42.622kg of narcotics was recovered.
N4.4bn Cannabis Seized at Lagos Ports
Babafemi also disclosed that NDLEA intercepted two containers carrying 1,090.5kg of cannabis indica, known as Loud, at the Apapa and Lekki ports.
The consignments, reportedly shipped from Thailand, were packed in 54 cartons containing 2,181 sachets of 500 grammes each and were valued at more than N4.4 billion.
Marwa commended officers of the Ogun, Apapa, Lekki, Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT Commands for the operations and urged personnel across the country to maintain the agency’s “balanced approach” to drug control.
Source: NDLEA.
