The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted tramadol worth more than ₦6.98 billion at Apapa Port, uncovered cannabis concealed in palm oil bound for Saudi Arabia and arrested an 85-year-old woman with 179kg of cannabis in Edo State.
The seizures form part of nationwide operations across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory, which also led to the recovery of hundreds of thousands of opioid pills and the destruction of 7.5 tonnes of cannabis on a farm in Ondo State.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the operations targeted drug trafficking networks operating through airports, seaports, markets, highways and plantations.
Cannabis concealed in palm oil intercepted in Kano
At Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, operatives intercepted Fatimah Ahmad last Friday during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa.
A search of her luggage uncovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil. Ahmad told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, gave her the gallon. Operatives subsequently arrested Yahaya at the airport car park.
NDLEA seizes ₦6.98bn tramadol, Canadian Loud at Lagos ports
At Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives and other agencies uncovered 8,725kg of powdered tramadol imported from India and falsely declared as maize starch.
The consignment was discovered on October 2 at APM Terminals during a joint examination with Customs. Laboratory tests confirmed that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder.
After its separation from the concealment on October 14, the consignment weighed 8,725kg across 349 bags, with an estimated value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.
At Tincan Island Port on October 12, operatives also discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna in a 40-foot container.
Raids uncover drugs in Lagos markets
At Idumota Market on October 14, operatives arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu with 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly.
In Mu shin on October 15, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, both 35, were arrested with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk respectively.
Along the Iyana Oba axis, operatives intercepted a truck transporting drugs from Trade Fair Market. The loading manager, Tajudeen Adeduntan, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested after 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg were found concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
85-year-old woman among six arrested in Edo
NDLEA operatives arrested six suspects in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State between October 15 and 16.
Among them was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was arrested in Warake with 179kg of skunk.
Other suspects included Ayo Aigberadion, 53, found with 220.8kg of skunk in Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg of cannabis, seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.
NDLEA destroys 7.5 tonnes of cannabis in Ondo
In Ondo State, operatives raided a farm at Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest on October 17, destroying 7,500kg of skunk cultivated across three hectares.
Five suspects were arrested: Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.
Also Read: NDLEA arrests businessman with 4.8kg cocaine
The operatives also recovered 92 bags weighing 1,267kg, alongside 11kg of seeds and 3kg of fresh stems, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281kg.
In a separate operation at Ameyinti, Owo, on October 16, operatives arrested Okunebe Ndidi, 53, with 25 bags of skunk weighing 375kg.
Seizures recorded in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and FCT
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. The vehicle contained 894,800 pills of tramadol and Exol-5.
On the same day, operatives recovered 291 blocks weighing 265kg from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira along the Bauchi-Gombe Road.
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 225mg. The following day, Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested on Niger Street, Malan Kato, with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, a raid on Kayimi village led to the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5kg of cannabis.
At Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road, operatives also arrested John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In the FCT, Odo Jonas Ejike, 42, was arrested in Utako on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) commended officers from the agency’s commands in Apapa, Tincan, Kano Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano, Kaduna and the FCT for the seizures and arrests.
He urged the officers to sustain intelligence-driven operations while expanding the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse enlightenment campaigns in schools, worship centres and communities.
Theconclaveng
