The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has raised fresh concerns over repeat drug offences after arresting an 80-year-old man who returned to drug trafficking barely three years after serving a jail term.
NDLEA spokesman, M. Femi Babafemi says the octogenarian, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, was first convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment in 2022 for dealing in illicit drugs.
But despite his age and criminal history, the agency says he went back to the same trade.
Acting on intelligence, Mr. Babafemi stated that, NDLEA operatives tracked him to his village home in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, hidden in his residence.
The agency describes the arrest as a clear message that no age, status or past conviction shields anyone from the law.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operations across several states led to more major seizures.
In Akwa Ibom, officers intercepted a businessman travelling towards Cameroun, who concealed tramadol pills inside mannequins meant for his clothing business.
While we in Oyo State, multiple raids uncovered large quantities of cannabis strains and led to the arrest of notorious dealers, with vehicles and cash recovered.
Further arrests were recorded in Edo, Niger, Taraba and Adamawa States, where NDLEA operatives seized thousands of tramadol capsules and several kilograms of cannabis in coordinated enforcement actions.
NDLEA says the arrests underline its resolve to dismantle drug networks nationwide, warning that offenders, young or old will be tracked, arrested and prosecuted.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen