NDLEA: Rearrests 83-Year-Old Drug Trafficker Uloma Uchechi Sunday

• The NDLEA rearrested 83-year-old Uloma Uchechi Sunday for alleged drug trafficking in Abia State, less than a year after her previous conviction for a similar offense.
• A South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, was arrested at Port Harcourt International Airport with 32.74kg of Thai Loud cannabis, having traveled from Thailand.
• Major drug consignments, including 307.20kg of tapentadol from Pakistan and 75.90kg of Colorado from the UK, were intercepted at Lagos airports, leading to several arrests.
• Significant cannabis seizures were also made in Cross River State (1,100kg) and Edo State (702.83kg), with multiple suspects apprehended.
• These operations highlight the NDLEA's aggressive enforcement against repeat offenders and its focus on disrupting international and domestic drug supply chains across Nigeria.

The NDLEA stated that Ms. Sunday, undeterred by her previous conviction, promptly resumed her criminal activities, escalating her involvement by establishing a drug joint that attracted dangerous individuals.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recently intensified its efforts against drug trafficking, notably rearresting an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for alleged involvement in illicit drug activities. This re-arrest occurred on Wednesday, October 7, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The agency acted on credible intelligence suggesting she operated a notorious drug joint that harbored criminal elements, indicating a persistent engagement in the trade despite prior legal consequences.

Ms. Sunday's re-arrest comes barely a year after her initial conviction for a similar offense. She was first apprehended on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi. During that operation, authorities seized 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves, and 12 grams of tramadol. Both women subsequently pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each, opting to pay the fines for their release. The NDLEA stated that Ms. Sunday, undeterred by her previous conviction, promptly resumed her criminal activities, escalating her involvement by establishing a drug joint that attracted dangerous individuals.

Beyond the re-arrest of the octogenarian, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, apprehended a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State. Ms. Jessie was found in possession of 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a cannabis strain, weighing a total of 32.74 kilograms, which were cleverly concealed within two traveling bags. Her journey originated from Thailand, transiting through Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431, and she reportedly confessed to previous trafficking through other African nations, indicating an attempt to expand her operational routes into Port Harcourt.

Further significant seizures were recorded across multiple states. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, 354,000 tablets of 250mg tapentadol, totaling 307.20 kilograms, were intercepted. These drugs, imported from Pakistan, arrived on a Royal Air Maroc flight and were discovered during a joint examination on October 6, following surveillance initiated upon their arrival on September 29. In a separate Lagos operation, 70 parcels of Colorado, weighing 75.90 kilograms, were found hidden in six Ghana-Must-Go bags within a consolidated cargo from the United Kingdom. Four individuals were arrested in connection with this seizure: 54-year-old clearing agent John Edrah, 54-year-old Uber driver Taofiq Ajibola, Adetunji Adebayo, and 48-year-old clothing trader Kazeem Damola Dosunmu. Mr. Ajibola identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the sender, while Mr. Dosunmu implicated another UK-based individual named Yusuf.

The agency's extensive drug interdiction operations extended to other regions, demonstrating a broad reach in combating illicit substances. In Cross River State, a raid on October 4 in Iyala Nkun village, Ikom Local Government Area, led to the arrest of 46-year-old Adama Inuwa and the recovery of a substantial quantity of cannabis, specifically 181 bags weighing 1,100 kilograms, along with 17.15 kilograms of cannabis seeds.

In Edo State, operatives intercepted a Toyota Camry in Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, which was transporting 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis, amounting to 702.83 kilograms. Three suspects, Monday Orji (52), Monday Lawal (40), and Precious Uduegele (20), were taken into custody in connection with this seizure. The NDLEA also reported interceptions of large consignments of illicit drugs in Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, and Ondo states, and the recovery of firearms and ammunition during a raid in Plateau State, underscoring the comprehensive nature of its ongoing enforcement activities nationwide.

These recent operations underscore the NDLEA's aggressive and persistent enforcement strategy against drug trafficking, particularly targeting repeat offenders and international supply chains. The case of Uloma Uchechi Sunday highlights that prior convictions or the payment of fines do not deter further prosecution, as the agency actively monitors and acts upon intelligence regarding individuals who return to illicit activities. This firm stance serves as a clear signal that involvement in drug-related offenses carries significant and ongoing legal risks in Nigeria.

The interdiction of Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie and the large seizures at Lagos airports further illustrate the agency's focus on disrupting international drug routes and collaborations with other security agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service. The NDLEA's comprehensive approach, spanning multiple states and involving various types of illicit substances, demonstrates a commitment to dismantling drug networks at all levels, from local distribution points to international importation channels. This sustained pressure aims to significantly heighten the risks for anyone involved in drug trafficking within or through Nigeria.

This article highlights the NDLEA's aggressive and persistent enforcement against drug trafficking, including repeat offenders and international routes. Lawyers should advise clients on the heightened risks of involvement in illicit drug activities in Nigeria, emphasizing that prior convictions or fines do not deter further prosecution, and that the agency actively monitors and targets individuals and supply chains across various states and international borders.

Source: Original reporting via Metro Plus