The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol powder valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos and arrested a woman allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis to Saudi Arabia.
The woman, identified as Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested on Friday, October 16, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.
According to the agency, operatives discovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil she was carrying.
The NDLEA said Ahmad told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon. Yahaya was subsequently arrested in the airport car park.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement on Sunday, detailing a series of anti-drug operations across several states.
At Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, intercepted the tramadol shipment on October 2 during an examination of cargo declared as maize starch.
A confirmatory test conducted at the agency’s forensic laboratory identified the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder. When separated from its concealment on October 14, the shipment comprised 349 bags weighing a total of 8,725 kilogrammes and valued at more than ₦6.98 billion.
At Tin Can Island Port, also in Lagos, operatives discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed in a Toyota Sienna vehicle inside a 40-foot container on October 12.
The agency also reported the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu at Idumota Market on October 14. Officers recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
In separate operations in Mushin, two 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 allegedly transporting illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market. The NDLEA said operatives discovered 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
The suspects arrested in connection with the shipment were identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.
Six arrested in Edo, cannabis farm destroyed in Ondo
In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16.
Those arrested included 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk, and 53-year-old Ayo Aigberadion, who was allegedly found with 220.8 kilogrammes.
Other suspects were reportedly found with varying quantities of cannabis and other substances, including tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.
In Ondo State, the agency said operatives 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 operation also yielded 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh cannabis stems, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.
In a separate operation in Owo, officers tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to a hideout in Ameyinti on October 16 and recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.
NDLEA intercepts tramadol in Bauchi
In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14, recovering 894,800 tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets from 35-year-old Shamsu Garba.
The agency also said officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.
The seizures and arrests form part of the agency’s ongoing operations against drug trafficking and the distribution of illicit substances across the country.
