The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested an 85-year-old
grandmother, Grace Ehimeka, popularly known as Mama Grace, with 179kg of
cannabis in Edo State.

The Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Monday
in a statement made available to journalists in Benin. Ofoyeju said Ehimeka was
arrested alongside five other suspected drug traffickers during coordinated raids in
communities across Owan East Local Government Area and other locations.

Ofoyeju warned that old age was no excuse for criminality, adding that the command remained committed to ridding the state of illicit drugs.

“The NDLEA Act is clear: you cannot hide under the canopy of old age and perpetrate acts that violate the law. The octogenarian, Grace Ehimeka, was apprehended on October 16, 2026, in her house at Warake community. This is a bad example for her children and grandchildren,” he said.

In her statement to the agency, Ehimeka reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and pleaded for forgiveness

“I am a widow and started selling cannabis over two years ago just to survive. My family members have warned me to stop, but I kept postponing my decision to stop. Officers, if you give me another chance, I will never sell cannabis again,” she reportedly pleaded.