The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 85-year-old grandmother, Grace Ehimeka, popularly known as Mama Grace, after recovering 179 kilogrammes of cannabis from her in Edo State.
Ehimeka was reportedly arrested on October 16, 2026, at her residence in Warake community, during coordinated operations targeting suspected drug traffickers across the state.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Monday in a statement made available to journalists in Benin City.
According to Ofoyeju, five other suspected drug traffickers were arrested during the intelligence-led operations, which resulted in the seizure of 407.39 kilogrammes of cannabis and other controlled substances.
The recovered substances included 546 grammes of loud, 114 grammes of tramadol, four grammes of diazepam and three grammes of Swinol.
The other suspects were identified as Ali Garba, 57; Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35; Ayo Aigberadion, 53; and Hope Okoro, 35.
The arrests were carried out in communities including Warake, Ivbiaro and Ewe/Irue in Edo State, as well as Auchi, following intelligence reports received by the agency.
Ofoyeju said the agency would not tolerate illicit drug trafficking regardless of the age of the suspects, stressing that old age would not serve as an excuse for violating the law.
He disclosed that Ehimeka was arrested with 15 bags of cannabis weighing 179 kilogrammes.
According to the commander, the octogenarian reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs in her statement to the agency and appealed for forgiveness.
She was quoted as saying that she had been selling cannabis for more than two years to survive following the death of her husband.
She reportedly told investigators that members of her family had repeatedly warned her to stop the business, but she continued postponing her decision to quit.
She pleaded with the operatives to give her another opportunity, promising not to return to the illicit trade.
In a related operation at Ivbiaro community on October 15, NDLEA operatives arrested Garba with 5.85 kilogrammes of cannabis, while Braimoh was apprehended in the same community with 100 grammes of the substance.
Mubid was arrested in Warake with two kilogrammes of cannabis, 309 grammes of cannabis seeds, 114 grammes of loud and 135 grammes of assorted pharmaceutical drugs, including tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.
Similarly, Aigberadion was arrested in Ewe/Irue, within Owan East Local Government Area, on October 16, with 220.8 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Okoro was apprehended in Auchi with 237 grammes of loud.
The NDLEA commander said the arrests and seizures were part of the agency’s intensified efforts to dismantle drug distribution networks and curb substance abuse in Edo State.
He urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information that could assist security operatives in identifying and apprehending individuals involved in illicit drug trafficking.
The agency reiterated its commitment to tackling the cultivation, distribution and abuse of controlled substances through intelligence gathering, coordinated raids and public awareness campaigns.
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