Agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have taken a 101-year-old great-grandmother into custody for allegedly selling cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State.
The elderly woman was detained on August 15, 2026, with 90 grams of skunk, a type of cannabis she reportedly confessed to selling in small amounts.
According to the NDLEA, she revealed to investigators that she resorted to this illegal trade after her provisions store was destroyed by fire.
She stated that her daughter in Lagos regularly supplied her with cannabis every four days for distribution to local buyers.
Following her arrest, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) instructed that the woman be granted bail and given counseling due to her advanced age.
Her daughter was also apprehended for her alleged involvement in the drug trade.
Cocaine Hidden in Cassava Fufu
In another operation in Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA officers intercepted a wooden boat suspected of transporting illegal drugs to fishing communities in Cameroon.
Three individuals were arrested during the raid, resulting in the confiscation of about 42.622 kg of narcotics.
The haul included 42.06 kg of skunk, along with other cannabis quantities, and 20 grams of cocaine ingeniously concealed within a large wrap of edible cassava fufu.
Over 1.49 Tonnes of Cannabis Seized at Lagos Ports
Additionally, the NDLEA reported its first interception of illicit drugs transported from Thailand via Nigeria’s maritime routes.
Two containers containing cannabis indica, also known as Loud, were seized at Lagos’s Apapa and Lekki ports.
At Apapa Port, a container falsely declared to contain dry fish, rice, vehicle parts, turmeric soap, and inverter batteries was found to hold 1,090.5 kg of the drug.
Another 400 kg was discovered in a second container at Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Altogether, the seizures from these two containers surpassed 1.49 tonnes, with an estimated street value exceeding N4.4 billion.
The NDLEA indicated that both containers originated from Thailand, suggesting drug syndicates might be utilizing a new sea route to funnel synthetic cannabis into Nigeria.
Additional Drug Seizures Nationwide
Beyond these major seizures, the NDLEA reported the recovery of methamphetamine, skunk, opioids, and other illegal substances through intelligence-led operations throughout Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia, and the Federal Capital Territory.
These developments were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi.
The recent operations underscore the diverse tactics purportedly used by drug networks, including hiding cocaine in food items and masquerading large shipments of illegal drugs inside containers declared to hold lawful goods.
The NDLEA expressed its commitment to continuing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking and distribution networks nationwide.
