NDLEA: 101-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Cannabis in Ogun

• The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 101-year-old Esther Ogunmabo in Ilisan, Ogun State, for allegedly selling 90 grammes of skunk on August 15.
• Ms. Ogunmabo reportedly began selling drugs after a fire destroyed her shop, with her daughter, who lives in Lagos, allegedly supplying her every four days.
• Due to her age, NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa directed that Ms. Ogunmabo be granted bail and placed on counselling, while her daughter was also arrested as a supplier.
• This incident is part of a broader NDLEA crackdown, including the June arrests of two men aged 84 and 75 in Abia State for supplying drugs to students, and a 65-year-old woman in Oyo State with various illicit substances.
• NDLEA Chairman Marwa has commended officers and urged sustained efforts against illicit drug trafficking, emphasizing the agency's comprehensive enforcement strategy.

This case, alongside other recent operations, underscores the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's aggressive and comprehensive approach to combating drug trafficking across Nigeria, targeting individuals of all ages and disrupting supply chains.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently apprehended a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, in Ilisan, Ogun State, on August 15, for allegedly engaging in the sale of cannabis. Operatives reportedly seized 90 grammes of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, which was found pre-packaged in small sachets. This arrest, focusing on an individual of advanced age, highlights the agency's broad enforcement reach across various demographics.

Ms. Ogunmabo reportedly informed NDLEA officials that she resorted to the drug trade after a fire destroyed her provisions shop, leaving her without a source of income. Further investigation revealed that one of her daughters, residing in Lagos, allegedly supplied her with cannabis every four days for onward sale. Due to Ms. Ogunmabo's advanced age, NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa issued a directive for her to be granted bail and provided with counselling. Concurrently, her daughter was also taken into custody for her suspected role in the drug supply chain, emphasizing the agency's focus on disrupting sources of illicit substances.

The arrest of Ms. Ogunmabo is not an isolated incident but rather part of a series of operations by the NDLEA targeting elderly individuals involved in drug dealing across Nigeria. In June, the agency conducted arrests in Umuahia, Abia State, involving two men aged 84 and 75, both accused of supplying illicit substances to secondary school students. One suspect, 84-year-old Godfrey Orji, was apprehended after security guards at Saint Silas Secondary School in Old Umuahia reportedly observed him providing drugs to two teenage students. A 15-year-old student later confirmed to investigators that Mr. Orji supplied him with drugs, which he both consumed and sold to peers.

In a related operation, 75-year-old Godwin Obiora was arrested at his patent medicine shop on Club Road, Umuahia, following intelligence reports that he was selling illicit substances to young people. From Mr. Obiora's premises, authorities recovered 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam. The two students implicated in these cases were subsequently placed into counselling and rehabilitation programs, underscoring the agency's dual approach of enforcement and welfare.

Beyond cases involving the elderly, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Nigeria continues its aggressive enforcement against drug trafficking across all age groups and supply levels. In a separate recent operation, a 65-year-old woman named Adebayo Kaosarat was arrested in Akobo-Ojuirin, Ibadan, Oyo State. Her apprehension led to the seizure of substantial quantities of various illicit drugs, including 1.795 kilograms of Scottish Loud, 1.66 kilograms of tramadol, 600 grammes of codeine syrup, 125 grammes of diazepam, and 50 grammes of flunitrazepam.

These widespread operations demonstrate the NDLEA's commitment to dismantling drug networks throughout the country. NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, has publicly commended the officers involved in these recent successes and has urged personnel nationwide to maintain their vigilance and sustained efforts against illicit drug trafficking. The agency's strategic focus on both street-level dealers and their suppliers, as exemplified by the arrest of Ms. Ogunmabo's daughter, aims to disrupt the entire drug distribution ecosystem.

This case, alongside other recent operations, underscores the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's aggressive and comprehensive approach to combating drug trafficking across Nigeria, targeting individuals of all ages and disrupting supply chains. The agency's actions highlight its determination to enforce drug laws rigorously, even when involving vulnerable populations like the elderly, while also demonstrating a capacity for discretionary action, such as directing bail and counselling.

For legal professionals advising clients on drug offenses, these developments signal the NDLEA's continued focus on disrupting supply chains and its willingness to pursue cases across various demographics. The Chairman's directive for bail and counselling in Ms. Ogunmabo's case, while simultaneously targeting her alleged supplier, illustrates a nuanced enforcement strategy that balances punitive measures with welfare considerations. This approach could inform defense strategies or plea negotiations, particularly in cases involving vulnerable individuals or those who may also be victims of exploitation within drug networks.

This case highlights the NDLEA's continued aggressive enforcement against drug trafficking across Nigeria, even involving vulnerable populations. Lawyers advising clients on drug offenses should note the agency's focus on disrupting supply chains (as evidenced by the daughter's arrest) and its discretionary powers, such as directing bail and counselling in specific circumstances, which could inform defense strategies or plea negotiations.

Source: Original reporting via Premium Times