The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Esther Ogunmabo, a woman said to be 101 years old, for allegedly selling cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Ogunmabo was arrested on Saturday with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets.

The centenarian reportedly told operatives that she turned to the illicit drug trade after her provision shop was destroyed by fire. She allegedly said one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied her with the cannabis every four days, which she sold in small quantities to residents.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Marwa directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and subjected to counselling due to her age. Her daughter was also arrested.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Akwa Ibom intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas allegedly transporting illicit drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon. Three suspects were arrested and 42.622kg of narcotics, including cannabis and cocaine, were recovered.

The agency also seized 1,090.5kg of cannabis, popularly known as Loud, in two containers at the Apapa and Lekki ports. The consignments, shipped from Thailand, were valued at more than N4.4 billion on the street.

Marwa commended NDLEA personnel involved in the operations and urged officers across the country to sustain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.