The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, has arrested an 85-year-old grandmother, Grace Ehimeka, with 15 bags of cannabis weighing 179kg.
According to a statement by the Edo State Commander of the agency, Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the woman also known as Mama Grace, was nabbed alongside five other suspected drug traffickers during coordinated raids across the Owan East Local Government Area.
Dr. Ofoyeju observed that the operations led to the recovery of 407.39kg of cannabis and other illicit substances, including 546 grams of loud, 114 grams of tramadol, 4 grams of diazepam, and 3 grams of swinol.
He stated that the suspects – Grace Ehimeka, 85 years old; Ali Garba, 57 years old; Habib Braimoh, 45 years old; Musa Mubid, 35 years old; Ayo Aigberadion, 53 years old; and Hope Okoro, 35 years old – were apprehended at Warake, Ivbiaro, and Ewe Uzeba communities following actionable intelligence.
The NDLEA Commander emphasised that old age is not an excuse for criminality, vowing that the command remains committed to ridding the State of illicit drugs.
“The NDLEA Act is clear: you cannot hide under the canopy of old age and perpetrate acts that violate the law. The octogenarian, Grace Ehimeka, was apprehended on October 16, 2026, in her house at Warake community. This is a bad example for her children and grandchildren,” the commander stated.
In her confessional statement, the grandmother admitted ownership of the illicit drugs and begged for forgiveness.
“I am a widow and started selling cannabis over two years ago just to survive. My family members have warned me to stop, but I kept postponing my decision to stop. Officers, if you give me another chance, I will never sell cannabis again,” she pleaded.
In a related operation in the Ivbiaro community on October 15, operatives arrested 57-year-old Ali Garba with 5.85 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, while 45-year-old Habib Braimoh was arrested the same day with 100 grams of the same substance.
Also arrested in the Warake community was 35-year-old Musa Mubid, who was found in possession of 2 kilograms of Cannabis sativa, 309 grams of Cannabis sativa seeds, 114 grams of “loud” (a potent cannabis strain), and 135 grams of assorted pharmaceuticals, including Tramadol, Swinol, and Diazepam.
Similarly, 53-year-old Ayo Aigberadion was arrested in Ewe/Irue, Owan East LGA, on October 16 with 220.8 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, while 35-year-old Hope Okoro was apprehended in Auchi town, with 237 grams of loud.
Dr Ofoyeju maintained that the arrests and drug seizures are part of the agency’s renewed drive to eliminate criminal elements from the state.
The NDLEA Commander urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to assist in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.