Investigations show a spike in arrests of suspects aged 70 and above
Illicit drug trafficking is typically associated with young men and women desperate to make quick money through illegal means. However, in recent times, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported a spike in arrests of suspects aged 70 and above.
The anti-drug agency has warned that cartels are increasingly exploiting the advanced age of elderly individuals to evade suspicion at airports and border posts.
At least 12 octogenarians have been arrested nationwide in the last six months, up from three cases recorded throughout 2024, according to NDLEA data accessed by LEADERSHIP Sunday.
“The traffickers believe elderly couriers attract less scrutiny. It’s a calculated move to beat profiling,” a source close to the NDLEA said, adding that the agency has tightened checks on all age groups at major transit points.
Various reasons have been adduced for senior citizens’ involvement in the illegal drug trade. While some suspects attribute their involvement to poverty, others say they have been in the trade since their younger years and know no other means of livelihood.
Stakeholders have also linked the involvement of older individuals in the illicit drug trade to poor upbringing. This report highlights some notable cases.
Friday Chigbu, 93
One of the most shocking cases is the arrest of a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu.
He was arrested at his home in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
A search of his residence led to the recovery of 7.7 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
The suspect claimed he had worked as a truck pusher before learning painting and tiling, and later ventured into the illicit drug trade over a year ago.
He said he had been smoking skunk since 1959, before turning it into a business.
Medical Doctor Daniel Ofomata, 69
While the NDLEA was investigating local collaborators linked to an international drug syndicate in the case involving the 93-year-old suspect, operatives arrested an Ivorian, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49kg.
This led to the subsequent arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, in a follow-up operation in Ogun State.
Gohouri (also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael) was arrested on Monday, 16 February 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan (Malpensa) via Addis Ababa.
He had arrived in Lagos from Milan, Italy, on 17 January 2026, and shuttled between Lagos and Enugu for three weeks. He later travelled to Kano, where he stayed for a week before ingesting the cocaine consignment in his hotel room. He was to be paid €5,000 upon successful delivery in Milan.
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