83-Year Old Convicted Grandma Rearrested With Meth, Colorado as NDLEA Nabs South African Woman

An 83-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday, has been arrested again by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with consignments of methamphetamine and Colorado concealed around her waist, barely one year after she was convicted for a similar drug offence.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, saying the octogenarian was arrested on October 7, 2026, at her home in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

Babafemi said operatives recovered quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado tied around her waist with a wrapper during the operation.

He explained that the latest arrest followed credible intelligence that the elderly woman had returned to the illicit drug trade and was operating a notorious drug joint that allegedly sheltered criminal elements terrorising the community.

According to him, Uloma was first arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, after NDLEA operatives recovered 50 grams of methamphetamine, 522 grams of skunk, 260 grams of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grams of tramadol from their residence.

He said both mother and daughter pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a N200,000 fine each, which they paid before regaining their freedom.

Babafemi alleged that after leaving prison, the elderly woman resumed the illegal drug business and expanded her operations by establishing a drug den in her community.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie.

The agency said the suspect was intercepted with 30 parcels of Thai Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 32.74 kilograms concealed inside two travelling bags.

Babafemi said investigations revealed that the suspect arrived from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight and confessed to previously trafficking illicit drugs through other African countries before attempting to expand her route to Port Harcourt, where she was eventually arrested.