101-Year-Old Arrested as Nigeria Intercepts N4.4bn Drug Shipments

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother for alleged retail drug trafficking in Ogun State, highlighting a series of nationwide operations that included a major N4.4bn ($2.7m) maritime drug bust.

The centenarian, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, was taken into custody on Saturday, 15 August 2026, in Ilisan, Ogun State, after being found with 90 grams of cannabis.

Nationwide Drug Interceptions

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) ordered that Ogunmabo be granted bail and placed on counseling due to her advanced age, while her daughter was arrested for allegedly sourcing and supplying the illegal drugs every four days.

Spokesperson Femi Babafemi detailed several major seizures across land and maritime corridors in a statement released on Sunday:

• First Direct Thailand-Nigeria Maritime Seizure: Security forces at Apapa and Lekki ports intercepted two shipping containers originating from Laem Chabang, Thailand. Operatives recovered nearly 1,500kg of high-potency synthetic cannabis (“Thai Loud”) concealed within shipments of rice, auto parts, and paper rims, with an estimated street value exceeding N4.4bn.
• Cross-Border Maritime Arrests: Off the coast of Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA marine units intercepted a wooden vessel transporting over 42 kg of cannabis and 20 grams of cocaine—concealed inside edible cassava food items—bound for fishing communities in neighboring Cameroon. Three suspects were detained.
• Capital and Inland Operations: In the Federal Capital Territory, agents seized over 24,000 tramadol pills hidden in a commercial bus traveling to Abuja, leading to a follow-up arrest in Niger State. Meanwhile, in Ondo State, anti-narcotics teams raided and destroyed a four-hectare cannabis plantation in the Ijare forest, burning an estimated 10,000 kg of plants.

The agency confirmed that further joint operations with customs and international law enforcement partners are underway to track evolving syndicate routes between South-East Asia and West Africa.