By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol powder valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos and arrested dozens of suspects in coordinated anti-drug operations across several states, including an 85-year-old woman allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State.
The agency also intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound cannabis consignment concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, seized thousands of kilograms of cannabis and recovered large quantities of tramadol, diazepam and other controlled substances in Lagos, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
The operations, carried out between October 12 and 17, 2026, targeted drug trafficking networks operating through seaports, airports, highways, markets, residential areas and cannabis-growing communities.
At Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies, uncovered the tramadol shipment on October 2 during an examination of cargo imported from India and declared as maize starch.
A confirmatory test conducted at the agency’s forensic laboratory established that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder.
When the consignment was separated from its concealment on October 14, it was found to comprise 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725 kilogrammes and an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.
The seizure represents one of the major interceptions highlighted by the agency in its latest nationwide enforcement operations.
At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, on Friday, October 16, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
The officers discovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis, popularly known as skunk, concealed inside a gallon of palm oil.
According to the agency, Ahmad told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon. Yahaya was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
The interception highlights the methods allegedly used by traffickers to conceal illicit substances in ordinary household products in attempts to evade airport security checks.
In another operation at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos on Monday, October 12, NDLEA officers discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, with an estimated street value of ₦165 million.
The drugs were packed in brown cartons and concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle transported in a 40-foot container.
The discovery followed a joint examination of the container by NDLEA operatives, Customs officials and other agencies.
In a separate raid at Idumota Market on October 14, officers arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu and recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
The agency also reported the arrest of two 35-year-old men in Mushin on October 15. Idowu Daudu was allegedly found with 59.95 kilogrammes of skunk, while Ahmed Oniyinde was arrested with 61.23 kilogrammes of the same substance.
In another Lagos operation, officers intercepted a truck travelling from Trade Fair Market along the Iyana Oba axis following intelligence reports.
Two suspects, identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested after a search uncovered 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects.
Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk at Warake.
Other suspects included Ayo Aigberadion, 53, allegedly found with 220.8 kilogrammes of cannabis at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852 kilogrammes; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with two kilogrammes of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Canadian Loud.
The seizures form part of the agency’s efforts to disrupt local distribution networks and prevent controlled substances from reaching consumers.
In Ondo State, operatives on October 17 raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest and destroyed an estimated 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated across three hectares.
Five suspects were arrested in connection with the operation. They were identified as Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.
The agency also recovered 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh cannabis stems, bringing the weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.
In a separate operation in Ameyinti, Owo area of the state, officers reportedly tracked down 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to his hideout on October 16 and recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by 35-year-old Shamsu Garba at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets, according to the agency.
On the same day, officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.
The seizures underscore the use of road networks to transport large quantities of illicit substances between locations.
In Kano State, two suspects, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on October 13, with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg seized.
Another suspect, 54-year-old Murtala Dayyabu, was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato, on October 14 with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, a raid at Kayimi village resulted in the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis.
At Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, officers arrested 39-year-old John Ayo David and recovered 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In Abuja, 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike was arrested in the Utako area on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
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Alongside its enforcement operations, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.
The latest activities included awareness lectures at Nawar-Ur-Deen High School, Ogboro, Oyo State; Elf Junior Secondary School, Bojude, Gombe State; Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School, Ikorodu, Lagos State; Harmony Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State; and Government Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State.
Other engagements were held at Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology in Port Harcourt, Mesh International School in Benin City, Edo State, and Abu Hanifa Academy in Kano Municipal, among other institutions.
The campaign is aimed at educating young people and other members of the public about the dangers of drug abuse and encouraging community participation in prevention efforts.
Commending officers and men of the Apapa, Tin Can, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano and FCT Commands, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel nationwide to sustain intelligence-led operations against drug trafficking networks.
Marwa also called for continued implementation of the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with public education and prevention initiatives.
The suspects’ arrests and the seizures were reported by the NDLEA; any allegations against the suspects remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
