A 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabon, was recently taken into custody in Nigeria on suspicion of selling packaged narcotics. The incident, which has drawn significant attention due to the suspect's advanced age, occurred in Lagos.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, law enforcement officers discovered 90 grams of "skunk," a potent form of cannabis, in the woman's possession during an operation.
In her statement to authorities, Ogunmabon claimed she turned to selling narcotics after her shop was destroyed by fire. She alleged that her daughter, who resides in Lagos, supplied her with the substances every four days, which she then sold in small quantities. Following her arrest, authorities decided to release Ogunmabon due to her age and referred her to counseling services, while her daughter, identified as the primary supplier, remains in police custody.
This case is considered highly unusual by Nigerian officials, as drug trafficking arrests involving centenarians are virtually unprecedented. Nigeria has been intensifying its efforts to combat drug trafficking, with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) frequently conducting operations to dismantle supply chains across the country. Such incidents highlight the complex socio-economic factors that can sometimes drive individuals toward illicit activities, even at an advanced age.
