By Chukwudi Obasi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, has arrested an 85-year-old grandmother, Grace Ehimeka, popularly known as Mama Grace, with 179kg of cannabis during coordinated raids across Owan East Local Government Area of the state.
Ehimeka was among six suspected drug traffickers arrested by operatives at Warake, Ivbiaro and Ewe/Irue communities following actionable intelligence.
The operations conducted on October 15 and 16 also resulted in the recovery of 407.39kg of cannabis and other illicit substances, including 546 grams of loud, 114 grams of tramadol, four grams of diazepam and three grams of swinol.
The other suspects arrested were Ali Garba, 57; Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35; Ayo Aigberadion, 53; and Hope Okoro, 35.
Edo State Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the agency would not exempt anyone from enforcement because of age.
“The NDLEA Act is clear: you cannot hide under the canopy of old age and perpetrate acts that violate the law,” Ofoyeju said.
Ehimeka was arrested at her residence in Warake on October 16 with 15 bags of cannabis weighing 179kg.
During interrogation, the octogenarian reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs, saying she had been selling cannabis for more than two years to survive.
“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.
At Ivbiaro on October 15, NDLEA operatives arrested Garba with 5.85kg of Cannabis Sativa, while Braimoh was arrested with 100 grams of the same substance.
Mubid was also arrested at Warake with two kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, 309 grams of cannabis seeds, 114 grams of loud and 135 grams of assorted pharmaceutical products, including tramadol, swinol and diazepam.
At Ewe/Irue, Owan East, Aigberadion was arrested on October 16 with 220.8kg of Cannabis Sativa.
Similarly, Okoro, a 35-year-old indigene of Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, was arrested in Auchi with 237 grams of LSD.
Ofoyeju said the arrests formed part of the command’s renewed efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and curb illicit drug abuse in Edo State.
He urged residents to provide credible and timely information to assist the agency in identifying traffickers and preventing the distribution of illicit drugs.
