By Saminu Ibrahim
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol worth over ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa port in Lagos and arrested an 85-year-old woman over alleged cannabis trafficking in Edo State.
The agency also intercepted cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil destined for Saudi Arabia and seized large quantities of tramadol, cannabis, diazepam and other illicit drugs in nationwide operations.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the operations covered Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, operatives on Friday, October 16, arrested Fatimah Ahmad during the clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa. A search revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil.
Ahmad reportedly identified her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, as the person who gave her the consignment. He was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
At Apapa port, Lagos, operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies uncovered 349 bags of powdered tramadol weighing 8,725 kilogrammes. The shipment, imported from India and falsely declared as maize starch, was valued at more than ₦6.98 billion.
At Tin Can port, operatives seized 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed in a Toyota Sienna vehicle shipped inside a 40-foot container.
In another Lagos operation, NDLEA operatives raided Idumota Market on October 14, arresting Elizabeth Chidera Kalu and recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
Two men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were also arrested in Mushin with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of cannabis, respectively.
Elsewhere in Lagos, operatives intercepted a truck along Iyana Oba following intelligence reports and arrested its loading manager, Tajudeen Adeduntan, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru. A search uncovered 18,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in cartons labelled as insecticide.
In Edo State, raids in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16 led to six arrests and the recovery of various illicit substances.
Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Warake. Another suspect, Ayo Aigberadion, 53, was arrested with 220.8 kilogrammes of cannabis at Ewe/Irue.
In Ondo State, the agency destroyed 7,500 kilogrammes of cannabis cultivated on three hectares of farmland at Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest on October 17. Five suspects were arrested, while operatives recovered 1,267 kilogrammes of processed cannabis, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh cannabis stems.
In a separate operation in Owo, operatives recovered 375 kilogrammes of cannabis from 25 bags at the hideout of a 53-year-old suspect, Okunebe Ndidi.
In Bauchi State, officers intercepted a vehicle driven by Shamsu Garba at Ragwam village, Katagum Local Government Area, recovering 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.
The same day, operatives recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle along the Bauchi-Gombe Road.
In Kano State, two suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol, while another suspect was apprehended at Niger Street, Malan Kato, with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, three suspects were arrested at Kayimi village with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis. Another suspect was apprehended at Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol.
In Abuja, operatives arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike in the Utako area on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.
Commending officers and men of the affected commands, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), praised their professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged officers nationwide to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
