By Nkechi Eze
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 62-year-old Nigerian-American grandmother with 9.45 kilogrammes of high-grade cannabis, popularly known as loud, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while investigations into a cocaine trafficking syndicate have led to the arrest of a Lagos-based car dealer.
The two arrests were among a series of operations conducted by the agency across several states, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis and pharmaceutical opioids, as well as the destruction of cannabis farms.
According to an official statement signed by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the 62-year-old suspect, Anetor Gloria Ubong, a realtor based in Richmond, Texas, was arrested on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, upon her arrival from Houston aboard a United Airlines flight.
A search of her two checked-in boxes reportedly led to the discovery of 18 parcels of loud weighing 9.45kg, concealed with gift-wrapping paper inside a box.
The agency said Ubong, who holds Nigerian and United States passports, claimed that the box had been delivered to her residence in the US by her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law for onward delivery in Nigeria to her daughter’s fiancé, identified as Jibola.
In a related operation targeting an international cocaine trafficking network, NDLEA operatives arrested a 34-year-old South African woman, Qhina Beauty, with 36.65kg of cocaine at the Lagos airport on October 7.
Qhina was apprehended at the departure hall while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa via Doha. A search of her two travelling bags uncovered 30 blocks of cocaine weighing 36.65kg, wrapped in cellophane tape, mixed with dried pepper and packed into seven separate parcels.
During interrogation, she allegedly told investigators that she had arrived in Nigeria on September 30 specifically to collect the consignment. She reportedly said another South African woman recruited her and promised to pay R20,000 upon successful delivery.
She also allegedly identified two other members of the network, one based in the United States and the other a Lagos-based car dealer.
Further investigations led to the arrest of the 46-year-old car dealer, Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, on October 14 at Apple Junction, Ago Palace Way, Lagos, after days of surveillance at his residence in Shasha.
The suspect reportedly admitted receiving Qhina at the airport, arranging accommodation for her at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin and later moving her to Cynarisso Hotel near the airport ahead of her planned departure.
Beyond the airport interceptions, NDLEA operatives recorded additional seizures and arrests in Lagos, Delta, Kano, Taraba, Niger, Bauchi, Ondo, Edo and Oyo states.
In Lagos, a 41-year-old suspect, Eletu Rasheedat, was arrested in the Eti-Osa area on October 23, with 5,820 pills of diazepam, 780 tablets of tramadol, 3.7kg of skunk and 230.25 litres of skuchies.
In Delta State, operatives arrested 51-year-old Peter Ugochukwu in Warri with a large consignment of pharmaceutical opioids, including 29,350 capsules of tramadol, 6,620 tablets of tramadol 200mg, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 tablets of Rohypnol and 3,500 tablets of diazepam.
The consignment also contained 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 200 ampoules of diazepam injection and quantities of tramadol 225mg, Molly and Cocodamol. The suspect was transferred from the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State alongside a white Hummer bus.
In another operation in Warri, a 46-year-old physically challenged woman, Helen Bakporo Samson, was arrested on October 19 with 6kg of skunk.
In Kano State, a raid in the Gerawa area on October 22 led to the arrest of 30-year-old Murtala Lawan and the seizure of 159 blocks of cannabis weighing 97.2kg.
In Taraba State, operatives arrested 39-year-old Raiyanu Misa at the Lankaviri checkpoint in Yorro Local Government Area on October 23 with 95 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 60.175kg. The same day, the police handed over another suspect arrested at Dakka village in Bali Local Government Area with 112 blocks weighing 81.49kg.
In Niger State, 26-year-old Emmanuel Ekene was arrested along the Sabo-Kainji road in Borgu Local Government Area with 64,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA officers arrested 45-year-old Jamilu Mustapha, also known as Last Card, at Nasaru Town in Ningi Local Government Area on October 21, recovering 379kg of cannabis packed in seven large sacks.
The agency also recovered 583kg of abandoned cannabis from 56 bags at a farm in Board-Ala, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, on October 20.
In Edo State, two cannabis farms in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area, with an estimated yield of 2,023.14kg, were destroyed on October 18. Operatives also burnt 450kg of processed cannabis at the site and recovered 97kg as exhibits. In a related operation at Ewe community, Owan West, 42-year-old Mary Edokhai was arrested with 35kg of cannabis.
In Oyo State, operatives arrested 41-year-old Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi in the Adamasingba area of Ibadan on October 19. The agency said the arrest followed his alleged escape after officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis from his residence on September 16.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools and communities across the country, including educational institutions in Oyo, Niger, Ogun, Kano, Enugu, Anambra and Osun states.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended personnel of the Lagos airport and the commands involved in the operations for their vigilance, professionalism and intelligence-led approach.
Marwa urged officers across the country to sustain the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
