In a striking revelation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), a 101-year-old great-grandmother, Esther Ogunmabo, was arrested in Ilisan, Ogun State, for selling retail cannabis (skunk).
The centenarian’s turn to illicit trade came after a devastating fire destroyed her provision shop, leaving her without a primary source of income.
Esther Ogunmabo turns to cannabis sale out of desperation
According to statements provided to investigators, the elderly woman disclosed that she resorted to retailing cannabis in small sachets to residents in her community as a survival mechanism following the loss of her business premises.
She detailed her operational pipeline, revealing that one of her daughters, based in Lagos, coordinated fresh drug shipments to her every four days to keep the retail trade supplied.
NDLEA intervention: Compassion and custody
Following her arrest on Saturday, August 15, during which operatives recovered 90 grams of skunk from her residence, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), ordered a compassionate intervention due to her advanced age:
Bail & Counselling: The centenarian was granted administrative bail and directed to receive formal counselling rather than undergo standard detention.
Daughter’s Arrest: The daughter responsible for sourcing and logistics in Lagos was arrested in connection with the supply chain.
Broader enforcement context
The arrest of the 101-year-old was part of a nationwide anti-narcotics sweep between August 15 and 22, which saw significant interdictions across multiple states:
Maritime Interceptions: The agency uncovered a new smuggling corridor from Thailand, seizing 1.49 tonnes of synthetic cannabis (“Thai Loud”) valued at ₦4.4 billion at Lagos ports.
Mid-Sea & Highway Busts: Operatives intercepted cocaine hidden inside cassava flour (fufu) bound for Cameroon fishing settlements and destroyed 10 tonnes of cultivated cannabis across four hectares in Ondo State.
Family Operations: Multiple family-run supply rings were dismantled, including three family members arrested near the Seme border in Lagos with 48kg of skunk, alongside a separate arrest of a 65-year-old woman in Ibadan found with assorted pharmaceuticals and Scottish Loud.
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