How More Elderly Citizens Are Getting Involved In Illicit Drug Trade

Investigations show a spike in arrests of suspects aged 70 and above

Illicit drug trafficking is typically associated with young men and women desperate to make quick money through illegal means. However, in recent times, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported a spike in arrests of suspects aged 70 and above.

The anti-drug agency has warned that cartels are increasingly exploiting the advanced age of elderly individuals to evade suspicion at airports and border posts.

At least 12 octogenarians have been arrested nationwide in the last six months, up from three cases recorded throughout 2024, according to NDLEA data accessed by LEADERSHIP Sunday.

“The traffickers believe elderly couriers attract less scrutiny. It’s a calculated move to beat profiling,” a source close to the NDLEA said, adding that the agency has tightened checks on all age groups at major transit points.

Various reasons have been adduced for senior citizens’ involvement in the illegal drug trade. While some suspects attribute their involvement to poverty, others say they have been in the trade since their younger years and know no other means of livelihood.

Stakeholders have also linked the involvement of older individuals in the illicit drug trade to poor upbringing. This report highlights some notable cases.

Friday Chigbu, 93

One of the most shocking cases is the arrest of a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu.

He was arrested at his home in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

A search of his residence led to the recovery of 7.7 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

The suspect claimed he had worked as a truck pusher before learning painting and tiling, and later ventured into the illicit drug trade over a year ago.

He said he had been smoking skunk since 1959, before turning it into a business.

Medical Doctor Daniel Ofomata, 69

While the NDLEA was investigating local collaborators linked to an international drug syndicate in the case involving the 93-year-old suspect, operatives arrested an Ivorian, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49kg.

This led to the subsequent arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, in a follow-up operation in Ogun State.

Gohouri (also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael) was arrested on Monday, 16 February 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan (Malpensa) via Addis Ababa.

He had arrived in Lagos from Milan, Italy, on 17 January 2026, and shuttled between Lagos and Enugu for three weeks. He later travelled to Kano, where he stayed for a week before ingesting the cocaine consignment in his hotel room. He was to be paid €5,000 upon successful delivery in Milan.

Further investigation by the NDLEA revealed that Gohouri had been directed by a shadowy figure on how to move the cocaine through the airport.

That individual was later identified as Dr Ofomata, who was traced to his residence at Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. He was arrested on 27 March 2026 and flown to Kano on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

Items recovered from him included 63 grammes of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection.

Oke Samuel, 80

An octogenarian, Oke Samuel, was arrested on Thursday, 26 March 2026, by NDLEA operatives during a special raid at Mosafuneto Camp, Erinmo Road, Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State.

A total of 2.2kg of skunk and 1.8 grams of methamphetamine were recovered from him.

Nwakoro Emeka, 74

A 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, after a large consignment of cocaine was discovered concealed in his luggage.

The suspect, who claimed he was travelling to London for a holiday, was apprehended at the departure hall while attempting to board a British Airways flight (BA082) to Heathrow on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

During a search, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilogrammes were discovered hidden inside food items, including ground dried pepper, carefully wrapped in foil and balloons.

Afolabi Joseph, 72

NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 24 January, arrested 72-year-old Afolabi Joseph at his residence on Aramoko Road, Mushin, Ilawe-Ekiti, alongside Abu Bunmi (alias “Go Slow”) at the New Jerusalem area, Erijinyan Road, Ilawe-Ekiti, for illicit drug dealing.

A total of 62 kilogrammes of skunk was recovered from the duo.

A village head, Chief James Abamu, and another suspect, Aboy Egah Abamu, were also taken into custody by the Edo State Command of the NDLEA after soldiers of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade, Benin City, handed them over following a raid at Lagos Camp, Ilushi, in Esan South-East Local Government Area. A total of 681kg of skunk and 181kg of cannabis seeds were recovered on Wednesday, 21 January 2026.

Ex-convict Jeremiah Nkanta, 80

Three years after he was arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for drug dealing, 80-year-old Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta was arrested again for returning to the trade.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said Nkanta was first arrested on 14 December 2022, and subsequently jailed by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

However, he returned to the trade and was rearrested on Saturday, 10 January 2025, at his residence in Mmanta-Abak village, Abak Local Government Area, where 5.7 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered.

Ayuba Ashiru, 80

Ayuba Ashiru, an ex-convict, was rearrested in May 2025 in Kaduna State with 2.3kg of cannabis.

The 80-year-old had previously served a 10-year prison sentence (2014–2024) for drug dealing and admitted to being in the trade for 46 years.

Jibril Audu, 75

Jibril Audu, 75, was arrested in May 2024 with 7.5kg of cannabis during a raid in Ekiti State.

Evelyn Ogenewu, 68

Evelyn Ogenewu, a 68-year-old woman, was arrested in Edo State on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, when NDLEA officers raided Etiosa Camp in Owan West Local Government Area, where they destroyed 1,266.8475kg of skunk across three farms.

No fewer than 23kg of processed cannabis was also recovered, all allegedly belonging to her.

Why They Do It

Favour Uroko and Success Nnadi, academics and researchers, traced the root causes of drug trafficking to greed, unemployment, insecurity, poverty, and lack of enlightenment.

“When people seek to gain more than they should, it results in greed. Those involved in drug trafficking often pursue dishonest wealth at the expense of public safety and health.

“The threat of drug trafficking is global, and in Nigeria it remains a major destabilising factor. Poverty, illiteracy, corruption, weak institutions, and inadequate funding for enforcement agencies all contribute to its rise.”

Another stakeholder, a trained chemist, Chinedu Itodo, said older men and women are increasingly involved due to financial desperation and long-term exposure to the trade.

“Some have been in the business from a young age and find it difficult to transition to other means of livelihood,” he said.

From Life Jail to Death Penalty for Offenders

On May 9, 2024, the Nigerian Senate approved the death penalty for those involved in dealing and importing hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

The proposed punishment extends to the manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution of such substances.

The resolution followed deliberations on the NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which passed its third reading after consideration by relevant committees.

If enacted, the bill would repeal Section 11 of the current Act, which prescribes life imprisonment as the maximum penalty.

NDLEA’s Perspective

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi described the trend as a deliberate exploitation of elderly citizens’ vulnerabilities.

“Cartels recruit older people because they believe they attract less suspicion,” he said.

He added that socio-economic challenges make some elderly individuals susceptible to recruitment, while others are driven by greed.

“In rural areas, many are not traffickers but producers, especially of cannabis, because they own farmland which syndicates exploit,” he said.

Babafemi also noted cases where the trade operates as a family enterprise, with younger relatives using elderly family members as fronts.

He stressed that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance stance.

“The position of our chairman, Gen. Marwa, is clear: age is not a shield for criminality. We have intensified intelligence-led operations targeting all offenders,” he said.

A local anti-drug advocate in Abuja, John Noah, called for increased awareness campaigns in rural communities.

“The government and NDLEA must step up advocacy in areas such as Kubwa, Mpape, AYA, Nyanya, and Zuba to educate residents on the dangers of drug trafficking,” he said.