NDLEA Intercepts N6.98bn Tramadol Shipment at Lagos Port, Arrests Suspects Across States.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a massive shipment of powdered tramadol valued at more than N6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, in what the agency described as one of its latest major breakthroughs against drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The seizure involved 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol hydrochloride powder contained in 349 bags. According to the NDLEA, the consignment originated from India and had been declared as maize starch before its contents were uncovered during a joint examination at the port.

The agency said the discovery was made on October 2 at the APM terminals in Apapa during a joint inspection involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies.

The cargo initially appeared to be a legitimate shipment because of the declaration attached to it. However, further examination raised suspicion, leading authorities to investigate the contents more closely.

A sample was subsequently subjected to analysis at the NDLEA forensic laboratory. The laboratory examination confirmed that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder rather than maize starch.

When the material was separated from its concealment on October 14, officials found that the shipment consisted of 349 bags with a combined gross weight of 8,725kg.

The NDLEA estimated the street value of the intercepted tramadol at more than N6.98 billion, highlighting the scale of the attempted trafficking operation.

Another major seizure at Tin Can Port

The operation at Apapa was not the only major drug interception recorded at Lagos ports.

On October 12, NDLEA officers working with other agencies at the Tin Can Island Port discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis.

The substance, valued at about N165 million, was concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle transported in a 40-foot container.

According to the agency, the cannabis was packed inside brown cartons and hidden within the vehicle, in another attempt to move an illicit drug consignment through the port.

The seizures at Apapa and Tin Can Island demonstrate the importance of joint examinations and intelligence-led inspections at Nigeria’s major entry points.

Drugs recovered in Lagos

NDLEA operations also continued in different parts of Lagos.

On October 14, operatives raided a store in Idumota and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu. Officers reportedly recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from the premises.

In Mushin, separate operations resulted in the arrest of two men. Idowu Daudu, 35, was arrested with 59.95kg of cannabis, while Ahmed Oniyinde, also 35, was found with 61.23kg of cannabis.

Another operation along the Iyana Oba axis led to the interception of a truck travelling from the Trade Fair market.

During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered 18,000 tablets of 250mg tramadol concealed inside cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

The NDLEA identified the suspects connected to the consignment as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.

85-year-old woman among suspects in Edo

The nationwide crackdown extended to Edo State, where six suspects were arrested during raids conducted between October 15 and 16 in communities including Warake, Ivhiaro, Ewe and Irue in Owan East Local Government Area.

Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179kg of cannabis.

Another suspect, Ayo Aigberadion, 53, was arrested with 220.8kg of cannabis.

Other arrests included Ali Garba, 57, who was found with 5.852kg of cannabis; Habib Braimoh, 45, who had 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, who was allegedly found with cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, who was found with 237 grammes of Canadian Loud.

The arrest of Ehimeka comes weeks after another elderly woman, 83-year-old Uloma Sunday, was rearrested in Abia State in a separate drug-related case.

Cannabis farm destroyed in Ondo

In Ondo State, NDLEA officers destroyed a three-hectare cannabis farm located in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17.

The agency estimated that the cannabis plants on the farm weighed about 7,500kg.

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

Officers also recovered 92 bags of cannabis weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh cannabis stems.

In another operation in Ondo, NDLEA operatives arrested 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi in the Ameyinti area of Owo on October 16. The agency said 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg were recovered from him.

Large opioid seizures in Bauchi and Kano

The agency also recorded significant seizures in Bauchi State.

On October 14, officers intercepted 35-year-old Shamsu Garba at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area. He was reportedly travelling in a Volkswagen Golf wagon carrying 894,800 pills identified by the NDLEA as tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.

On the same day, officers recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg from an abandoned vehicle along the Bauchi-Gombe road.

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

A day later, Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested on Niger Street in the Malan Kato area with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.

The NDLEA also intercepted a separate cannabis consignment at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

Cannabis hidden in palm oil

On October 16, officers stopped a female passenger identified as 16-year-old Fatimah Ahmad during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, through Addis Ababa.

A search of her luggage revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed inside a gallon of palm oil.

The teenager reportedly told officers that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the substance. Yahaya was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

The case illustrates another method allegedly used to conceal illicit drugs and move them through airports without attracting immediate attention.

Further arrests in Kaduna and Abuja

NDLEA operations also recorded seizures in Kaduna State.

Three suspects — Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20 — were arrested during a raid in Kayimi village. Officers recovered 496.5kg of cannabis.

At Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road, John Ayo David, 39, was arrested with 49,500 tablets of 225mg tramadol.

In Abuja, NDLEA operatives arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike in Utako on October 17. The agency said 29,500 tramadol capsules were recovered during the operation.

The series of arrests and seizures covered Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, showing the broad geographical reach of the agency’s latest operations.

NDLEA intensifies anti-drug campaign

Beyond arrests and seizures, the agency said it continued its drug prevention and awareness activities through its War Against Drug Abuse campaign.

Awareness programmes were held at schools and other institutions in Oyo, Gombe, Lagos, Kogi, Cross River, Rivers, Edo and Kano states.

The NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations, particularly personnel working at the Apapa and Tin Can ports, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and various state commands.

He urged officers to maintain the pressure on drug trafficking networks and strengthen efforts to prevent illicit substances from reaching communities.

The interception of the N6.98 billion tramadol shipment at Apapa Port remains the biggest single seizure highlighted in the latest operations. The case also demonstrates how traffickers may attempt to disguise controlled substances as legitimate commercial cargo.

With the shipment declared as maize starch before laboratory testing established that it was tramadol hydrochloride, the operation underscores the role of intelligence, physical inspection and forensic analysis in identifying concealed drug consignments.

The NDLEA’s latest nationwide operations are expected to continue as the agency works to disrupt trafficking networks, seize illicit substances and arrest individuals suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade.