The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilograms of tramadol powder valued at over ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, alongside other illicit drug consignments seized during operations across the country.
The agency also intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound shipment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and arrested several suspects, including an 85-year-old woman in Edo State.
At the Kano airport on October 16, operatives arrested Fatimah Ahmad after discovering 511.75 grams of cannabis hidden in palm oil during clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah through Addis Ababa.
Ahmad reportedly told investigators that the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, uncovered a consignment of tramadol hydrochloride powder imported from India and falsely declared as maize starch.
The shipment, initially discovered on October 2, was confirmed through laboratory analysis. Further examination on October 14 revealed 349 bags weighing 8,725 kilograms, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.
At the Tincan Island Port, operatives recovered 55 kilograms of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle shipped in a 40-foot container.
In separate Lagos operations, officers arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu at Idumota Market, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 Molly tablets.
Two other suspects, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested in Mushin with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of cannabis, respectively.
A truck intercepted at Iyana Oba also yielded 18,000 tramadol tablets concealed in cartons labelled as insecticide. Two suspects were arrested.
In Edo State, six suspects were apprehended during raids on communities in Owan East Local Government Area.
Among them was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, allegedly found with 179kg of cannabis at Warake. Another suspect, Ayo Aigberadion, 53, was arrested with 220.8kg of the substance.
In Ondo State, operatives destroyed an estimated 7,500kg of cannabis cultivated on three hectares of farmland in the Okemoro Isinbode forest.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation, while another 1,281kg of cannabis-related exhibits was recovered.
A separate raid in Owo led to the seizure of 375kg of cannabis from a suspect identified as Okunebe Ndidi.
In Bauchi State, officers intercepted 894,800 tramadol and Exol-5 pills from a suspect, Shamsu Garba, while 265kg of cannabis was recovered from an abandoned vehicle along the Bauchi–Gombe road.
Operations in Kano resulted in the seizure of 30,100 tramadol tablets and 100,000 Exol-5 tablets, with three suspects arrested.
In Kaduna, three suspects were apprehended with 496.5kg of cannabis, while another suspect was arrested with 49,500 tramadol tablets.
Operatives also recovered 29,500 tramadol capsules from a suspect in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaigns in schools and communities across several states.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged personnel nationwide to sustain intelligence-led efforts against drug trafficking.
He also emphasized the need to maintain public sensitisation programmes alongside enforcement operations to reduce drug abuse and trafficking across Nigeria.
