The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested an 85-year-old woman, Grace Ehimeka, also known as Mama Grace, with 15 bags of cannabis weighing 179kg.
The NDLEA Commander in Edo State, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Benin on Monday.
Ofoyeju said Ehimeka was arrested alongside five other suspected drug traffickers during coordinated raids in communities across Edo State.
He said the operations led to the seizure of 407.39kg of cannabis, 546g of loud, 114g of tramadol, 4g of diazepam and 3g of Swinol.
The other suspects were identified as Ali Garba, 57; Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35; Ayo Aigberadion, 53; and Hope Okoro, 35. They were arrested in Warake, Ivbiaro, Ewe/Irue and Auchi following intelligence reports.
Ofoyeju said the agency would not excuse criminal activity on the grounds of age, adding that the command remained committed to tackling illicit drug trafficking in the state.
He said, “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.”
According to the commander, Ehimeka admitted ownership of the drugs in her statement to the agency and pleaded 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.
Ofoyeju said operatives arrested Garba in Ivbiaro on October 15 with 5.85kg of cannabis, while Braimoh was apprehended in the same community that day with 100g of the substance.
He added that Mubid was arrested in Warake with 2kg of cannabis, 309g of cannabis seeds, 114g of loud and 135g of assorted pharmaceutical drugs, including tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.
Similarly, Aigberadion was arrested in Ewe/Irue, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 16 with 220.8kg of cannabis, while Okoro was apprehended in Auchi, in the Ndukwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, with 237g of loud.
The commander said the arrests and seizures formed part of the agency’s renewed efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse.
The NDLEA urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to assist its efforts to curb illicit drug activities.