Convicted grandma, 83, back in custody over drug dealing in Abia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and Colorado, barely a year after she was convicted of a similar offence, according to Gazette.

NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday that operatives arrested her on Wednesday at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

He said she was re-arrested following credible intelligence that she ran a notorious drug joint that harboured criminal elements who terrorised the community.

“Uloma’s first encounter with the law was on 17th May 2025 when she was arrested by NDLEA operatives at her residence in the same village alongside her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, 32, with 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol,” Babafemi noted.

He said both women pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. They paid the fine and were released by the court.

“Undeterred, the notorious old woman promptly returned to the criminal trade and escalated the scale by setting up a drug joint where she harbours dangerous characters,” he said.