By Seun Ibiyemi
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted more than 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, alongside over 6,000 kilograms of cannabis, in a series of operations across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the seizures had a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion.
One of the major breakthroughs was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion, at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.
The operation also led to the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade security checks while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.
The suspect, 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe, was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
NDLEA said investigations established that Ekpe had allegedly been parading himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card to avoid scrutiny at checkpoints.
His alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
At the Tin-Can Island Port, NDLEA operatives placed a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, under surveillance following processed intelligence.
The container, which arrived on September 12, was subjected to a joint physical examination involving NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16.
The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the container.
The seized cannabis weighed 603.75kg and had an estimated street value of N1.811 billion.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a location along Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The agency said Ossai had allegedly been using an auto-repair workshop as a front for storing illicit drugs.
Officers recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152 grams of methamphetamine and a metal box allegedly used for storing the substances.
In another major operation, NDLEA officers arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, along the Abaji-Abuja Highway on Friday, September 18.
The suspects were allegedly transporting more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
The drugs were concealed in eight sacks, according to the agency.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on September 18, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg were also intercepted at a logistics company in Lagos, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe.
Another suspect, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu, was arrested at Apongbo on September 17 with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives recovered 154,480 capsules of tramadol from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19.
The suspects were arrested at Barunde area and Gombe main market respectively on September 18.
In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, four suspects — Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday — were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest, Ondo State.
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NDLEA said the operation, conducted on September 15, led to the destruction of 5,000kg of skunk, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for prosecution.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area, arrested three suspects identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18.
The suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
The arrests formed part of the agency’s wider intelligence-led operations across the country.
Beyond the seizures and arrests, NDLEA said its commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency conducted enlightenment lectures at St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.
Commending officers and men of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), praised their intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
