Again, NDLEA Nabs 83, 78-yr-old Grandpas For Drug Trafficking

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an 83-year-old grandfather, Pa John Ofiel and a 78-year-old grandpa, Ogunjobi Samuel, in ongoing nationwide crackdown on illicit drug traffickers and dealers.

This is coming after LEADERSHIP had last week reported new trends of the elderly going into Illicit drug businesses.

Pa Ofiel was nabbed by NDLEA officers on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during a raid operation at Samek by Powerline, Aba, Abia State, following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit substances.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday, said: “as at the time of his arrest, 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets were recovered from him. The octogenarian claimed he was a professional shoemaker before delving into the illicit drug trade.”

In a similar development, NDLEA operatives in Ekiti State on Thursday, April 30, arrested a 78-year-old Samuel at his H22 Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti, for drug peddling while 350 grams of the same psychoactive substance were seized from him at the time of his arrest.

‎Also, two ladies: Rebecca King, 24, and Olaniyan Opeyemi, 31, were arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 1.925kg Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.

While Rebecca was nabbed conveying the consignment along Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Wednesday, April 29, Opeyemi was arrested in a follow-up operation at Iwo Road, Ibadan, when she attempted taking delivery of the cargo.

The NDLEA also said in another interdiction operation in Ibadan, a drug dealer, 49-year-old Taofik Adeyemi, was arrested on Saturday, May 2, along with his salesman Mustapha Oyerinde, 28, at his residence in Erunmu area of the state capital, after months of evading arrest.

Two of his associates: Abiodun Abiola and Aderinde Ibrahim, had been arrested on December 8, 2025, and are currently being prosecuted at a Federal High Court, Ibadan.

At the time of Taofik’s arrest, 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry car marked EPE 299 JZ were recovered from him.

In Osun state, a 65-year-old driver, Oladayo Awoyemi, was on Thursday, April 30, arrested at Ile-Ife toll gate along Ibadan/Ilesha expressway while conveying a cartoon containing 7kg skunk and 15grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle with registration number LES 114 AG.

The NDLEA spokesman added that a follow-up operation in Ilesa town led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Ifedayo Babalola, 40.