NDLEA Arrests 83-Year-Old, 78-Year-Old in Nationwide Drug Crackdown
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an 83-year-old man, Pa John Ofiel, and a 78-year-old man, Ogunjobi Samuel, in an ongoing nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking and distribution networks.
The arrests come shortly after reported emerging trends of elderly individuals becoming involved in illicit drug activities.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Pa Ofiel was arrested on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during a raid at Samek by Powerline, Aba, Abia State, following credible intelligence linking him to drug dealing.
Babafemi stated that about 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets, were recovered from him at the time of arrest. The octogenarian reportedly told investigators that he had previously worked as a professional shoemaker before venturing into the illicit drug trade.
In a separate operation in Ekiti State on Thursday, April 30, NDLEA operatives arrested 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel at his residence at H22 Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti, over alleged drug peddling. About 350 grams of skunk were also recovered during the arrest.
In another development, two women—Rebecca King (24) and Olaniyan Opeyemi (31)—were arrested in Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 1.925kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain.
Rebecca was intercepted while transporting the substance along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday, April 29, while Opeyemi was later arrested in a follow-up operation at Iwo Road, Ibadan, as she attempted to receive the consignment.
The NDLEA also disclosed that in a separate interdiction in Ibadan, 49-year-old Taofik Adeyemi and his associate, 28-year-old Mustapha Oyerinde, were arrested on Saturday, May 2, at Adeyemi’s residence in the Erunmu area after months of evading security operatives.
Two other associates, Abiodun Abiola and Aderinde Ibrahim, had earlier been arrested on December 8, 2025, and are currently being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
At the time of Adeyemi’s arrest, officers recovered 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry with registration number EPE 299 JZ.
In Osun State, a 65-year-old driver, Oladayo Awoyemi, was arrested on Thursday, April 30, at the Ile-Ife toll gate along the Ibadan–Ilesa Expressway. He was allegedly found transporting a carton containing 7kg of skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine in a vehicle with registration number LES 114 AG.
Babafemi added that a follow-up operation in Ilesa led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Ifedayo Babalola (40).