NDLEA arrests 101-year-old woman for selling cannabis in Ogun

In a peculiar turn of events, Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 101-year-old woman, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, for allegedly selling cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State. The agency reported the arrest occurred on August 15, with the woman found in possession of 90 grams of skunk, a cannabis strain, packaged in small sachets.

During interrogation, Ms. Ogunmabo reportedly told NDLEA operatives that she began selling drugs after a fire destroyed her provisions shop. She claimed that one of her daughters, residing in Lagos, supplied her with cannabis every four days for resale in smaller quantities. In light of her advanced age, NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa directed that she be granted bail and placed under counseling. Her daughter has also been apprehended in connection with allegedly supplying the drugs.

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she took up the drug trade after a fire destroyed her provisions shop.

This case is one of several recent arrests by the NDLEA involving elderly Nigerians accused of drug dealing. In June, the agency apprehended two men, aged 84 and 75, in Umuahia, Abia State, for allegedly supplying illicit substances to secondary school students. One of them, 84-year-old Godfrey Orji, was reportedly caught by school security guards supplying drugs to students at Saint Silas Secondary School.

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one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied her with cannabis every four days, which she then sold in small quantities.

The second suspect, 75-year-old Godwin Obiora, was arrested at his patent medicine shop following intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young people. The NDLEA stated that 4.64kg of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam, were recovered from Mr. Obiora's shop. A 15-year-old student allegedly informed investigators that Mr. Orji supplied him with drugs, which he consumed and also sold to peers. The two students involved were subsequently placed on counseling and rehabilitation.

Additionally, the NDLEA announced the arrest of a 65-year-old woman, Adebayo Kaosarat, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday. She was found with significant quantities of various drugs, including Scottish Loud, tramadol, codeine syrup, diazepam, and flunitrazepam. NDLEA Chairman Marwa commended the officers involved in these operations and urged continued efforts against illicit drug trafficking nationwide.

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Mr Orji supplied him with drugs, which he used and also sold to other students.