NDLEA Seizes ₦6.98bn Tramadol at Lagos Port, Arrests 85-Year-Old Woman in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol hydrochloride powder valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, arrested an 85-year-old woman with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State, and uncovered several consignments of illicit drugs across the country.

The agency also intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, as part of a series of intelligence-led operations targeting drug trafficking networks in Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the seizures included cannabis, tramadol, diazepam injections, Molly, Exol-5 tablets and other controlled substances.

At the Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, uncovered the tramadol consignment on 2 October following the examination of a shipment from India 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 Wednesday, 14 October, it was found to comprise 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725kg and an estimated street value of more than ₦6.98 billion.

In a separate operation at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos on Monday, 12 October, operatives discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, during a joint examination of a 40-foot container.

The cannabis was packed in brown cartons and concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle being transported in the container.

At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, officers on Friday, 16 October, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, 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.

Ahmad reportedly told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon. Yahaya was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided Idumota Market on Wednesday, 14 October, arresting Elizabeth Chidera Kalu and 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 the Mushin area with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk respectively.

Also on Thursday, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a truck conveying illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market along the Iyana Oba axis of Lagos.

Two suspects, identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, the truck’s loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

In Edo State, operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between 15 and 16 October, arresting six suspects and recovering various quantities of illicit substances.

Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was found with 179kg of skunk in Warake.

Other suspects included Ayo Aigberadion, 53, arrested with 220.8kg of skunk at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 17 October, raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest, destroying an estimated 7,500kg of skunk cultivated across three hectares.

Five suspects were arrested during the operation: Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.

The operatives also recovered 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh cannabis stems, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281kg.

In a separate operation in Owo, officers tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to his hideout in Ameyinti on Friday, 16 October, where they recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg.

Bauchi State recorded another major seizure on Wednesday, 14 October, when operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by 35-year-old Shamsu Garba at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.

On the same day, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.

In Kano State, two suspects, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on Tuesday, 13 October, with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

A day later, officers 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 resulted in the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5kg of cannabis.

Another operation at Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road, led to the arrest of 39-year-old John Ayo David with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

In Abuja, operatives arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike in the Utako area on Saturday, 17 October, with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.

Beyond the seizures and arrests, the agency said its commands and formations sustained their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign during the week, organising awareness programmes in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The activities included lectures at Nawar-Ur-Deen High School, Ogboro, Oyo State; Elf Junior Secondary School, Bojude, Gombe State; Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School, Ikorodu, Lagos; Harmony Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State; and Government Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State.

Other beneficiaries included the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Port Harcourt; Mesh International School, Benin City, Edo State; and Abu Hanifa Academy in Kano Municipal.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers and men of the Apapa, Tin Can, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano and FCT commands for their professionalism and intelligence-led operations.

Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks while maintaining what the agency described as a balanced approach to drug control.