68-Year-Old Grandmother Arrested As NDLEA Destroys Cannabis Farms In Edo Forest

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 68-year-old grandmother along with several other suspects in a series of coordinated anti-drug operations across Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Delta, and Kogi states, resulting in large seizures of cannabis, tramadol, and codeine syrup.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Ugwuja Kingsley with 56 kilograms of skunk at Agbara on Thursday, February 19.

Two days earlier, on Tuesday, February 17, Ekwe Arinze was apprehended at a motor park in Oshodi with 76 kilograms of the same substance.

At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers, in a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, uncovered 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in a container. The agency said it insisted on a 100 per cent physical examination of the shipment following processed intelligence.

Along the Okene/Lokoja highway in Kogi State, operatives on patrol intercepted a commuter bus travelling from Lagos to Kano on Sunday, February 15, recovering no fewer than 7,300 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden inside two sound systems.

A follow-up operation in Zuba, Abuja, on Tuesday, February 17, led to the arrest of two suspects linked to the consignment, identified as Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives stormed Iju forest on Thursday, February 19, arresting Bright Timothy, 28, with 195 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds. Another suspect, Godwin Bernard, was nabbed with 198 kilograms of the substance during raids on forest enclaves.

Bauchi State recorded one of the largest seizures. A total of 936 kilograms of skunk was recovered from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, 48, arrested at Azare town in Katagum LGA on Tuesday, February 17.

In a related operation, another 85.8 kilograms were recovered from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, Nasiru Suleman, 36; Abdul Umar, 25; and Musa Suleman, 21, also in Azare.

In Delta State, operatives seized 37 kilograms of skunk from Mgbeme Ejeoma, 34, at Club Street, Ekeredjebor, Ughelli, on Tuesday, February 17.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA officers raided Etiosa camp in Owan West LGA the same day, destroying 1,266.8475 kilograms of skunk cultivated on three farms.

They also recovered 23 kilograms of processed cannabis. Two suspects, a 68-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Ogenewu, and Friday Iruoje, 43, were arrested during the operation.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and men of the MAKIA, Seme, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Ondo, Delta and Kogi commands for the arrests and seizures.