Amanze Chinonye
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 8,725 kg of powdered tramadol valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa port in Lagos and intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound cannabis consignment concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The agency also reported multiple drug seizures and arrests across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Among those arrested was an 85-year-old woman in Edo State.
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The operations targeted consignments of cannabis, tramadol and other controlled substances, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
At the Kano airport, operatives on Friday, October 16, intercepted Fatimah Ahmad during the clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
The agency said officers found 511.75 grams of cannabis, locally known as skunk, 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, the NDLEA said.
At the Apapa port in Lagos, a joint examination conducted with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies on October 2 led to the discovery of a shipment of powdered tramadol imported from India and declared as maize starch.
Laboratory tests confirmed that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride, according to the agency. When the consignment was separated from its concealment on October 14, it comprised 349 bags weighing a total of 8,725 kg, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.
In a separate operation at the Tin Can Island port in Lagos on October 12, officers discovered 55 kg of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, valued at ₦165 million.
The drugs were packed in brown cartons and concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle transported in a 40-foot container, the agency said.
Elsewhere in Lagos, operatives raided Idumota market on October 14 and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
The following day, two 35-year-old men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested in Mushin. The agency said it recovered 59.95 kg and 61.23 kg of skunk from the suspects, respectively.
In another operation on October 15, officers intercepted a truck travelling from Trade Fair market along the Iyana-Oba axis following intelligence about a suspected drug shipment.
The suspects were identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 18,000 tramadol tablets, each containing 250 mg, concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Edo State, raids conducted between October 15 and 16 in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area resulted in the arrest of six suspects.
They included Grace Ehimeka, 85, who was allegedly found with 179 kg of skunk in Warake, and Ayo Aigberadion, 53, from whom 220.8 kg was recovered in Ewe/Irue.
Other suspects were Ali Garba, 57, who was found with 5.852 kg of cannabis; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grams; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2 kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grams of Loud.
In Ondo State, operatives raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, destroying an estimated 7,500 kg of skunk cultivated on three hectares, the agency said.
Five suspects were arrested: Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.
Officers also recovered 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kg, 11 kg of cannabis seeds and 3 kg of fresh cannabis stems, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281 kg.
In a separate operation in Ameyinti, Owo, officers tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to his hideout on October 16 and recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kg.
In Bauchi State, operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14. A search uncovered 894,800 pills and capsules of tramadol and Exol-5, according to the NDLEA.
The same day, officers patrolling the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kg from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.
In Kano State, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano road on October 13 with 30,100 tablets of tramadol, each containing 225 mg.
Another suspect, Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested on October 14 at Niger Street in Malan Kato with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5, the agency said.
In Kaduna State, a raid in Kayimi village led to the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5 kg of cannabis.
A separate operation at Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road resulted in the arrest of John Ayo David, 39, who was allegedly found with 49,500 tablets of tramadol, each containing 225 mg.
In Abuja, operatives arrested Odo Jonas Ejike, 42, in the Utako area on October 17 and recovered 29,500 tramadol capsules.
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Alongside its enforcement operations, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse awareness campaign in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency said recent outreach activities included engagements with students and staff of schools in Oyo, Gombe, Lagos, Kogi, Cross River, Edo and Kano states, as well as the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology in Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers in the affected commands for their intelligence-led operations and urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks.
He also called for continued implementation of the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with public awareness and prevention programmes.
The agency said the operations formed part of its broader campaign to curb the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across Nigeria.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
