*Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency operatives arrest 80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru, a serial illegal drug dealer and ex-convict, over the possession of 2.3 kilogrammes of skunk packaged in nylons and papers for retail, in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In ridding Nigeria of illegal drug trafficking and substance abuse, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said its operatives arrested 80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru over the possession of 2.3 kilogrammes of skunk packaged in nylons and papers for retail, in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Sunday, May 18, 2025, said the agency’s operatives had nabbed Ashiru May 14 on Barazana Street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State, by officers acting on credible intelligence.

Babafemi disclosed the NDLEA had earlier arrested and prosecuted the suspect for drug dealing offences, as well served a 10-year jail term between 2014 and 2024.

The statement also noted: 鈥淗e claimed to have been in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years.”

In a related development, the anti-narcotics regulatory agency further said its operatives apprehended an 82-year-old Uloma Uchechi Sunday, and her 32-year-old daughter Chisom Uchechi, in Abia state on May 17.

The arrest followed a raid on their home at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village, where different quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, and skunk, a strain of cannabis, as well as cash exhibit of N130,600, were recovered from them.

The agency stated: 鈥淭he grandma confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son, who started the business, died two years ago.”

The NDLEA also wrote on its verified social media account that 80-yr-old ex-convict, 82-yr-old grandma arrested as NDLEA intercepts N3.2billion opioids 鈥� Nabs Poly student selling drugs to others; recovers cocaine in female headgear going to Australia; uncovers AK 47 rifle, magazines in maize sack 鈥� NDLEA NIGERIA (@ndlea_nigeria) May 18, 2025.

Babafemi said in the statement in the Port Harcourt ports complex, in Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA said three million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 鈥渨orth N2.1 billion in street value were intercepted in one of the containers鈥�, which the agency had watch-listed based on intelligence.

It stated: 鈥淭he seizure was made on Wednesday, 14th May during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

鈥淚n like manner, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on Tuesday, 13th May intercepted another watch-listed container declared to have new car parts and accessories from India.”

The statement also explained: 鈥淒uring a joint examination with other security agencies, a total of 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value were discovered concealed in the shipment.

鈥淚n Kwara State, no fewer than 199,200 pills of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail on Friday, 16th May, following their arrest at Gegele area of Ilorin by NDLEA operatives who also raided Favour Lodge in the state capital where an HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef was arrested with 650 grams of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis already measured in 149 cups, which he sells to other students.”