NDLEA Arrests South African Woman With 36.65kg Cocaine, US-Based Grandma With Cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old South African woman with 36.65 kilograms of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and a 62-year-old Nigerian-American grandmother with 9.45kg of imported cannabis, popularly known as loud.

The arrests were among several drug interception operations conducted by the agency across Lagos, Delta, Kano, Bauchi, Niger, Edo, Ondo, Taraba and Oyo states, leading to the recovery of large quantities of illicit drugs and pharmaceutical opioids.

The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the agency, the South African suspect, identified as Qhina Beauty, was arrested on October 7, 2026, at the departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to South Africa through Doha.

A search of her two travelling bags reportedly led to the discovery of 30 blocks of cocaine weighing 36.65kg.

The illicit substance, according to the NDLEA, had been mixed with dried pepper, wrapped in cellophane tape and packed into seven separate parcels.

During interrogation, Qhina allegedly told investigators that she arrived in Nigeria on September 30 specifically to collect the consignment.

She reportedly said another South African woman recruited her for the operation and promised to pay her R20,000 upon successful delivery.

The suspect also allegedly identified two other members of the drug trafficking syndicate, one based in the United States and the other a Lagos-based car dealer.

Following further investigations, NDLEA operatives arrested the alleged car dealer, 46-year-old Uchenna Victor Umunnakwe, on October 14 at Apple Junction, Ago Palace Way, Lagos, after conducting surveillance at his residence in Shasha.

The agency said Umunnakwe admitted receiving Qhina at the airport, lodging her at Santiago Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin and subsequently moving her to Cynarisso Hotel near the airport ahead of her departure.

US-Based Grandmother Arrested With 9.45kg LoudIn a separate operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives arrested 62-year-old Anetor Gloria Ubong, a Nigerian-American realtor based in Richmond, Texas, following her arrival from Houston aboard a United Airlines flight on October 21.

The agency said a search of her two checked-in boxes uncovered 18 parcels of loud weighing 9.45kg, concealed with gift-wrapping paper inside a box.

Ubong, who reportedly holds both Nigerian and United States passports, allegedly told investigators that her daughter and the daughter’s future brother-in-law delivered the box to her residence in the US for onward delivery in Nigeria to her daughter’s fiancé, identified as Jibola.

Physically Challenged Woman Arrested in DeltaIn Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested 46-year-old Helen Bakporo Samson, a physically challenged woman, at Enhere Junction, Warri, on October 19, with 6kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

The arrest was part of a series of operations in the state targeting the distribution of illicit drugs.In another operation in Warri, a 51-year-old suspect, Peter Ugochukwu, was arrested with a large consignment of pharmaceutical opioids and other controlled substances.

The seized drugs included 29,350 capsules of tramadol, 6,620 tablets of tramadol 200mg, 4,116 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,340 tablets of Rohypnol, 3,500 tablets of diazepam, 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection.

Other substances recovered from him included quantities of tramadol 225mg, Molly and Cocodamol.

The NDLEA said the suspect was transferred from the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State alongside a white Hummer bus.

Meanwhile, operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit arrested 41-year-old Eletu Rasheedat in the Eti-Osa area of Lagos on October 23.Items recovered from her included 5,820 pills of diazepam, 780 tablets of tramadol, 3.7kg of skunk and 230.25 litres of skuchies, a locally produced psychoactive mixture.

Major Drug Seizures in Kano, Bauchi, NigerIn Kano State, NDLEA operatives raided the Gerawa area on October 22, arresting 30-year-old Murtala Lawan and recovering 159 blocks of cannabis weighing 97.2kg.

In Bauchi State, officers arrested 45-year-old Jamilu Mustapha, popularly known as Last Card, at Nasaru Town in Ningi Local Government Area on October 21.

The operation led to the seizure of 379kg of cannabis packed in seven large sacks.In Niger State, 26-year-old Emmanuel Ekene was arrested on October 19 along the Sabo-Kainji Road in Borgu Local Government Area.

The agency said 64,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam, were recovered from him.

Cannabis Farms Destroyed in Ondo, EdoIn Ondo State, NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, raided a farm at Board-Ala in Akure South Local Government Area on October 20.

The operation led to the recovery of 56 abandoned bags of cannabis weighing 583kg.

In Edo State, two cannabis farms in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area, were destroyed on October 18.

The agency estimated that the farms could yield 2,023.14kg of cannabis.During the operation, officers destroyed 450kg of processed cannabis at the site and took another 97kg as exhibits.

A related operation at Ewe community in Owan West led to the arrest of 42-year-old Mary Edokhai with 35kg of cannabis.NDLEA Arrests Suspect Over 197.8kg Cannabis in IbadanIn Oyo State, operatives arrested 41-year-old Fajana Dada Oluwaseyi in the Adamasingba area of Ibadan on October 19.

The agency said the suspect had initially escaped arrest after officers seized 197.8kg of cannabis from his residence on September 16.

He was subsequently tracked down and arrested following further investigations.In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested 39-year-old Raiyanu Misa at the Lankaviri checkpoint in Yorro Local Government Area on October 23.

The suspect was allegedly found with 95 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 60.175kg.

On the same day, the Nigeria Police Force handed over another suspect to the agency after his arrest at Dakka village in Bali Local Government Area.

The suspect was allegedly found with 112 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 81.49kg.

NDLEA Intensifies Anti-Drug CampaignBeyond its enforcement operations, the NDLEA said its commands and formations across the country sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign during the week.

The campaign featured enlightenment lectures for students and staff of schools in Oyo, Niger, Ogun, Kano, Enugu, Anambra and Osun states, among other locations.

Participating institutions included Oje Grammar School in Ibadan, Government Day Secondary School in Kwamba, Niger State, Baptist Primary School in Olorunda, Ogun State, Government Secondary School in Yalea, Kano State, Community Secondary School in Igogoro, Enugu State, Urban Girls Secondary School in Onitsha, Anambra State, and Kelebe Community Grammar School in Osogbo, Osun State.

Commending officers and men of the MMIA, Kano, Lagos, Bauchi, Niger, Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Oyo and Delta commands, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised their vigilance, professionalism and intelligence-led operations.

Marwa urged them and other personnel across the country to sustain the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The statement was signed by Babafemi on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

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