80-Year-Old Ex-Convict Arrested As NDLEA Recovers Drugs Hidden In Mannequins [PHOTOS]

An 80-year-old grandpa, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, has been arrested as the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recovered large quantities of tramadol concealed inside mannequins.

In a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, 80-year-old grandpa, known for notorious drug business, was previously arrested on the 14th, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in Akwa-Ibom State, and was re-arrested on Saturday after a credible intelligence-led operation by NDLEA. The statement reads, “Notorious for illicit drug business, Nkanta was first arrested by NDLEA on 14th December 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

“Not ready to let go of the old habit, Nkanta returned to the illicit drug trade and following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 10th January 2026, tracked the Octogenarian ex-convict to his Mmanta – Abak village, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom state, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis in his residence.”

In another successful operation in Akwa Ibom state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Oron-Ibaka road in Oron LGA on Friday, 9th January, intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, while travelling with full body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroun.

A search of the mannequins by the operatives of the NDLEA revealed that they were stuffed with pills of tramadol weighing 5.3 kilograms.

The statement disclosed that “the suspect claims he resides in Cameroon and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended. It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state and was trafficking them to Cameroun to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids.”

In another operation in Oyo state, NDLEA operatives’ raid across different locations led to the seizure of dangerous illicit drugs and arrest of notorious dealers, including 45-year-old Remi Bamidele (Alias ‘Aluko the Mafia’) at Sasa, Ibadan, where a total of 10.696 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud and skunk, all strains of cannabis.

At the time of his arrest on Thursday, 8th January, two vehicles, including a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris marked HG 06 LYD, were recovered from him.

NDLEA officers on Friday, 9th January arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, at the Adegbayi area of the state capital, Ibadan, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud and skunk, while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk.

Not less than One Million Three Hundred and Seven Thousand One Hundred Naira (₦1,307,100) cash exhibit was also recovered from him at the point of his arrest on Saturday, 10th January.