The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos and seized a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The agency also arrested an 85-year-old woman with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State and destroyed 7,500 kilogrammes of the substance at a plantation in Ondo State during coordinated operations across the country.
The nationwide crackdown, which covered Lagos, Kano, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), also resulted in the seizure of hundreds of thousands of opioid tablets and capsules.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the tramadol shipment was discovered at the APM Terminals in Apapa during a joint examination conducted with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on October 2.
The consignment, imported from India, had been falsely declared as maize starch to conceal its contents.
Laboratory tests conducted by the NDLEA subsequently confirmed the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder.
Babafemi disclosed that the drugs, separated from their concealment on October 14, weighed 8,725 kilogrammes and were packed in 349 bags, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.
At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, operatives intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, through Addis Ababa.
A search of her luggage revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis, popularly known as skunk, concealed in a gallon of palm oil.
According to the agency, Ahmad told investigators that the gallon had been given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
In another operation at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos on October 12, NDLEA operatives discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle transported in a 40-foot container.
The agency also raided Idumota Market in Lagos on October 14, arresting Elizabeth Chidera Kalu and recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
In Mushin, two suspects, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, both aged 35, were arrested on October 15 with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.
Another operation along the Iyana Oba axis led to the interception of a truck conveying illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market.
The agency arrested the loading manager, Tajudeen Adeduntan, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, after recovering 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16.
Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk at Warake.
Other suspects included 53-year-old Ayo Aigberadion, allegedly found with 220.8 kilogrammes of cannabis at Ewe/Irue, and Ali Garba, 57, who was arrested with 5.852 kilogrammes.
The agency also arrested Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes of cannabis; Musa Mubid, 35, with two kilogrammes of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.
In Ondo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a cannabis plantation at Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest on October 17, destroying 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated across three hectares.
Five suspects — Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35 — were arrested during the operation.
The operatives also recovered 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems, bringing the total weight of recovered exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.
In a separate operation at Ameyinti in Owo on October 16, a 53-year-old suspect, Okunebe Ndidi, was arrested with 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 894,800 pills comprising tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.
On the same day, patrol officers along the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.
In Kano, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested on October 13 along the Zaria-Kano Road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
A day later, operatives arrested 54-year-old Murtala Dayyabu at Niger Street, Malan Kato, with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, a raid at Kayimi village led to the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Another operation at Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road resulted in the arrest of John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In the FCT, operatives arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike in the Utako area on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
The NDLEA said the enforcement operations were complemented by public enlightenment campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse initiative, targeting schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities nationwide.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Apapa, Tincan, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano, Kaduna and FCT Commands for the operations.
Marwa urged personnel to sustain intelligence-driven operations against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s approach of combining enforcement with preventive education and public awareness.
Michael Olugbode
Follow us on:
