The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth billions of naira at Lagos ports and arrested dozens of suspects in coordinated operations across several states.
The seizures included 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol valued at more than N6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, alongside cannabis, other opioids and controlled substances recovered in Lagos, Kano, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Kaduna states.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to the statement, the tramadol shipment, imported from India and declared as maize starch, was uncovered on October 2 during a joint examination by NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies at the APM terminals in Apapa.
A confirmatory test conducted at the agency’s forensic laboratory established that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride.
The consignment, separated from its concealment on October 14, comprised 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725 kilogrammes and an estimated street value exceeding N6.98 billion.
At the Tincan Island Port, Lagos, operatives also discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis valued at N165 million, concealed in brown cartons inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle shipped in a 40-foot container.
The agency further reported the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu during a raid on Idumota Market on October 14, during which 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly were recovered from her store.
In Mushin, two 35-year-old men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested on October 15 with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.
Another operation along Iyana Oba led to the interception of a truck conveying illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market. Two suspects, identified as the loading manager, Tajudeen Adeduntan, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested.
A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State, a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested on October 16 during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
The operatives allegedly found 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil in her possession.
Ahmad reportedly told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the container. Yahaya was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects and recovering various quantities of cannabis and other substances.
Those arrested included 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk in Warake; 53-year-old Ayo Aigberadion, with 220.8 kilogrammes in Ewe/Irue; and Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852 kilogrammes.
Other suspects were Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35; and Hope Okoro, 35. The agency said the exhibits recovered from the suspects included cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol, diazepam and Loud.
In Ondo State, operatives reportedly raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, destroying 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on three hectares of land and arresting five suspects.
The agency also recovered 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems, bringing the total quantity of exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.
In a separate operation in Owo, operatives tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to a hideout in Ameyinti on October 16, where they 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, Katagum Local Government Area, on October 14.
The operation led to the recovery of 894,800 tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.
On the same day, operatives patrolling the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.
The agency said the seizures and arrests formed part of its ongoing nationwide efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks, prevent the circulation of illicit substances and bring suspected offenders to justice.
