'101-year-old great-grandmother' arrested for selling cannabis in Nigeria
Esther Ogunmabo is accused of selling "retail sachets" of a strain of cannabis known as skunk.
A 101-year-old great-grandmother has been taken into custody in Nigeria on suspicion of dealing cannabis, a case that has garnered considerable public interest.
Esther Ogunmabo was arrested on Saturday in Ogun state, located in the country's southwest, according to an announcement from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA's media director, stated that the centenarian was found in possession of "retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals."
The NDLEA reported that Ogunmabo informed investigators she began selling illegal drugs after her provisions shop was destroyed in a fire. She has since been released on bail.
The agency further indicated that one of her daughters, residing in Lagos, allegedly arranged for the drug to be supplied to her every four days. Ogunmabo is accused of then reselling it in smaller quantities to customers within her community.
Due to her advanced age, NDLEA chief executive Mohamed Marwa ordered that Ogunmabo be granted bail and receive counseling.
Her daughter has also been arrested. Ogunmabo's bail status means she could still face criminal charges.
Her arrest coincided with the NDLEA's reports of substantial drug seizures along Nigeria's maritime routes. In Akwa Ibom state, operatives, acting on reliable intelligence, intercepted a wooden boat last Friday on the high seas, bound for Cameroon, and arrested three individuals on board. Over 42kg of narcotics were recovered from the suspects.
The agency also marked a significant achievement with its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand.