The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rearrested 83-year-old Uloma Uchechi Sunday for drug-related offenses, just a year after she was previously convicted. The arrest occurred on October 7, 2026, at her home in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, within the Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. Authorities discovered methamphetamine and Colorado concealed around her waist, wrapped in a cloth, according to statements from NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi.

Uloma's earlier arrest took place on May 17, 2025, when she and her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, were apprehended at the same location. During that incident, law enforcement seized 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves, and 12 grams of tramadol. Both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each, which they opted to pay, leading to their release.

Despite her prior conviction, the NDLEA alleges that Uloma resumed her involvement in the drug trade, reportedly establishing a drug joint that attracted criminal elements and caused unrest in her community. Babafemi emphasized that her actions posed a significant threat to local residents.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport apprehended Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, a South African woman found with 32.74 kilograms of cannabis, known as Thai Loud. The drugs were concealed in two traveling bags and Jessie had arrived from Thailand via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight. She reportedly admitted to previously trafficking drugs through other African nations and was attempting to expand her routes to Nigeria when she was intercepted.

The NDLEA's recent operations extend beyond these arrests, with significant drug seizures reported across the country. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, agents intercepted 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol weighing 307.20 kilograms, shipped from Pakistan. This consignment was discovered after being monitored since its arrival on September 29.

Additional arrests included a 54-year-old clearing agent and an Uber driver in Lagos, both linked to a 75.90-kilogram shipment of Colorado from the UK. In Cross River State, operatives seized 1,100 kilograms of cannabis during a raid, while in Edo State, three suspects were arrested with over 700 kilograms of compressed cannabis.

The NDLEA has also been active in Ondo State, where a 21-year-old woman was arrested with 290 kilograms of cannabis, and in Taraba State, where two suspects were found with 166,200 tablets of tramadol. The agency continues to emphasize its commitment to combating drug abuse through ongoing sensitization campaigns across various states, including Oyo, Ebonyi, Niger, Kano, Lagos, and Ogun.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), the NDLEA Chairman, commended the efforts of the agency's personnel across various commands for their successful operations and urged them to maintain a balanced approach in their drug control efforts.