HIBAPRESS
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Nigeria announced the arrest of an 83-year-old woman after she was found in possession of quantities of methamphetamine and processed cannabis, a incident that comes just one year after her conviction for similar charges.
The agency's spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, explained that the woman, identified as Oluma Uchechi Sunday, was arrested on October 7 in a village in Abia State, in the southeast of the country, following intelligence about her activities. He noted that the drugs were strapped around her waist. The search operation resulted in the seizure of two grams of cannabis and seven grams of methamphetamine.
According to the same official, the arrested woman had previously been convicted last year, along with her 32-year-old daughter, for possessing quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, as well as natural and processed cannabis.
The woman had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison with the option of paying a fine of $150. After paying the fine, she was released, before again falling under suspicion in drug-related cases.
The spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency stated that investigations indicate the suspect had returned to her activities, and was even accused of establishing a drug selling point and harboring individuals described by the official as dangerous.
Nigeria faces challenges related to drug trafficking, production, and distribution, given its location within drug smuggling routes in West Africa. A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2024 also indicated the use of routes in West, East, and Southern Africa for smuggling narcotic substances, including heroin and methamphetamine, from Asia towards Europe.
